Priscilla Chan’s education initiative, The Primary School, is closing after a decade of operations and reportedly more than $125 million in funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Founded to combine education with healthcare and family support, the project sought to address challenges affecting children’s development and learning. Following the closure announcement, CZI committed more than $10 million towards community services in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. The funding will support local healthcare, early childhood development and family wellbeing. The development highlights the challenges of sustaining privately funded education models and the role of philanthropy in supporting communities beyond individual schools.
Priscilla Chan’s school project and its $125 million funding
The Primary School was established in 2016 with backing from Priscilla Chan and CZI. It sought to integrate classroom education with healthcare and family services, serving children in East Palo Alto, California, before expanding to San Leandro.The initiative was built on the idea that children’s academic progress is influenced by their health, family circumstances and access to support. Its programme included educational instruction, healthcare, developmental screenings and parent wellness services.According to The Wall Street Journal, CZI provided more than $125 million to the school over approximately 10 years. The investment supported an ambitious model designed to address children’s needs beyond traditional classroom teaching. However, the eventual closure prompted questions about educational outcomes and financial sustainability.
Why The Primary School closed
The school’s board announced that its East Palo Alto and San Leandro campuses would shut at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year. Funding challenges and questions surrounding the institution’s future contributed to the decision.Coverage of the closure examined academic performance, leadership changes and the reliance on philanthropic backing. The Wall Street Journal also explored whether the school had achieved the educational outcomes expected from an initiative of its scale.Although the campuses are closing, some services developed through the project are being transferred to community organisations with support from CZI.
An integrated approach to children’s wellbeing
The Primary School brought together academic teaching, medical care and family assistance. Its model was intended to address circumstances that can influence a child’s ability to learn and develop.Services included developmental screenings, healthcare and parent wellness coaching. Early intervention was another focus, with the aim of identifying children’s needs during their formative years.This approach connected services that are often delivered by separate institutions. Its implementation also required coordination between educators, healthcare professionals and families.
CZI announces more than $10 million in community investment
On April 13, 2026, CZI announced more than $10 million in grants and investments for East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. The funding is intended to strengthen healthcare, early childhood development and family wellness programmes.The announcement forms part of a broader $50 million commitment made in 2025 to support local communities. The organisation is working with established service providers rather than directing all its funding towards a single educational institution.This strategy aims to maintain access to essential services through organisations already operating in the area.
Three organisations receive $7 million
The official announcement identified three recipients of a combined $7 million in grants.Children’s Health Council: $3 millionThe funding will support the adaptation and continuation of The Primary School’s Parent Wellness Coaching programme.Ravenswood Family Health Network: $3 millionThe grant will help expand school-based physical and behavioural healthcare across East Palo Alto and Belle Haven.Ravenswood Early Learning: $1 millionThe organisation will launch an early intervention initiative for children aged zero to five, including developmental screening, referrals and follow-up services.These grants account for $7 million of the announced investment. CZI describes the wider package as exceeding $10 million, with the remaining funding not fully itemised through these three grants.
Support for students and families
The closure required families to consider alternative schools and healthcare providers. Some parents had relied on the institution for integrated services alongside education.The San Francisco Chronicle reported in April 2025 that transition assistance included financial support for families across different age groups.CZI also said it provided bridge funding to help students move into the Ravenswood City School District. Discussions about possible affordable housing investments for teachers and staff have formed part of its wider engagement with the district.Separately, CZI announced $3.6 million in education savings accounts for nearly 550 students at The Primary School across East Palo Alto and the East Bay. The accounts are designed to assist families with future education expenses.
The future of philanthropic education
The Primary School’s closure raises questions about how education initiatives funded by private philanthropy can sustain their operations and demonstrate results over time.Its experience brings together several issues, including academic achievement, institutional leadership, financial continuity and the delivery of integrated services.CZI’s community funding represents a continuation of support for healthcare, early learning and family wellbeing, even though the school’s campuses are closing. The effectiveness of these programmes will depend on their implementation, reach and ability to provide consistent assistance to local residents.The transition marks a change in how CZI supports education and community development in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven.
