Permanently closing a school can be a heartbreaking event. However, the article “Uncertain gains in school closings’’ (Page A1, April 12) buried critical research relevant to this topic. In fact, studies indicate that students often gain when struggling schools close.

My organization has carefully studied this issue in Ohio, a state whose major cities have experienced numerous closures. In partnership with two university researchers, Stephane Lavertu and Deven Carlson, we studied the academic impact of school closings — 198 of them, from 2006 to 2012. Our analysis revealed that pupils made gains after their school was shut. Three years after the event, we found displaced students gained, on average, 49 additional days of learning in reading and 34 in math.

In addition, a recent study from New York City found high school graduation rates improved when its low-performing schools closed.

City and school leaders must close schools judiciously and with great care. But there is a silver lining: Students benefit.

Aaron Churchill

Ohio research director

Thomas B. Fordham

Institute

Columbus, Ohio