In a move that has left hundreds of Bay Area families shocked and disheartened, The Primary School — a tuition-free institution founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan — has announced it will close at the end of the 2025–26 academic year. The decision marks a dramatic shift in the philanthropic direction of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the powerful nonprofit through which the Meta CEO and his wife have invested billions into education, health, and social justice causes.
Established in 2016, The Primary School was hailed as a groundbreaking model integrating healthcare and education for children from birth through high school. Priscilla Chan, a former pediatrician, had long described it as the embodiment of her twin passions. The institution served mostly low-income, underrepresented families across two campuses in East Palo Alto and Hayward, California.
But the school’s board — reportedly influenced by a larger strategic realignment at CZI — announced the closure last week, citing the initiative’s decision to withdraw financial support. While the school’s leadership called it a “very difficult decision,” they offered little clarity to affected families, many of whom considered the school a lifeline in one of America’s most expensive regions.
Behind the Shutdown
According to reports from the San Francisco Standard and The New York Times, parents were told the decision stemmed directly from CZI’s change in priorities. CZI confirmed that it would donate $50 million to support families and communities impacted by the closure but declined to elaborate further on why the investment was ending.
Carson Cook, The Primary School’s senior manager of strategy and advancement, confirmed to CNN that meetings with parents began last Thursday and are ongoing. However, Cook refrained from addressing the broader motivations behind the shutdown. “Our commitment to whole-family support remains unchanged,” he said.
Yet the silence from CZI has only deepened public frustration, particularly given the school’s transformative impact on its community. With over 95% of students identifying as underrepresented minorities, The Primary School was designed not just as an educational institution, but a hub for holistic development — pairing children and parents with healthcare access and “wellness coaches” focused on resilience and stability.
Shifting Political Winds
The closure comes as CZI — and Meta — undergo significant internal change. In February, CZI announced it would pivot away from social advocacy, cutting programs focused on racial equity, immigration reform, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A month earlier, Meta made a similar move.
Observers note these changes mirror a broader political recalibration by Zuckerberg, who has warmed to former President Donald Trump in recent years. After calling Trump a “badass” following an attempted assassination last summer, Zuckerberg has since met with the former president at Mar-a-Lago and pledged $1 million toward his upcoming inauguration. Meta also agreed to pay $25 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit over his post-January 6 account suspension — including $22 million earmarked for Trump’s future presidential library.
These developments signal a stark departure from Zuckerberg’s past positions. In 2020, he and Chan condemned Trump’s divisive rhetoric following racial justice protests. Now, with Meta touting a “real opportunity” under the incoming Trump administration, the couple’s philanthropic vision appears to be following suit.
Fallout for Families
For many parents, the closure feels like yet another betrayal by Silicon Valley’s elite. As Meta and other tech giants expanded, the Bay Area’s affordability crisis deepened — forcing out countless low-income families. The Primary School was seen as one of the few institutions actively working to counterbalance that trend.
“This school was a gift to the community,” one parent told the San Francisco Standard. “Now they’re going to take that away too.”
Despite the decision, staff at The Primary School are vowing to make the most of the final year. “We’re going to give these kids the best possible experience,” Cook said. “Our team is deeply committed to our families and community.”
As the school prepares for its final chapter, its legacy raises broader questions: What happens when Big Tech philanthropy, once focused on equity, begins to retreat? And what does it mean for the communities left behind?
