Cook Elementary School Property to Face Sale Vote
The school board will vote October 28 on the future of the 10.4-acre site following the building's 2026 closure.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Primary Education
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Should your local school board sell closed school properties rather than repurposing them?
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board is scheduled to vote on the sale of the former Cook Elementary School property on October 28, 2026. The 10.4-acre site in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood was designated as surplus following the school's closure at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Why it matters
The sale follows the relocation of 186 students to neighboring schools due to low enrollment and aging facility conditions at the site. This move marks a shift in local educational infrastructure as the district seeks to manage its assets more efficiently.
The property occupies 10.4 acres in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood on West 11th Street and is valued at $3.2 million. This vote follows the transfer of 186 students to Whittaker, Kimberly Park, and Ashley Elementary Schools.
The players
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board
The local governing body responsible for overseeing school facilities, budget allocations, and student enrollment policies across the district.
The details
The board previously declared the land surplus after the school building proved difficult to maintain and student enrollment reached unsustainable levels. Following the closure, students were successfully reassigned to nearby elementary schools. The upcoming vote on the sale represents the next administrative step in the process of offloading vacant district-owned property.
Timeline
The 2025-2026 school year marked the closure of Cook Elementary School.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the property sale on October 28, 2026.
The Home Front
The proposed sale follows the district's established protocol for identifying and disposing of surplus assets. This divestment comes as the district balances the costs of maintaining aging infrastructure against evolving neighborhood enrollment trends.
Families in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood should monitor the board decision to understand potential changes in property use near their homes. Parents may also note that Brunson Elementary School is expected to open its new building to students following the upcoming winter break.
The takeaway
The district is moving to divest from aging facilities that no longer meet current enrollment needs. Residents can monitor future board agendas to see how the sale of this 10.4-acre site in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood might impact local zoning or community land use.
Further reading
Learn more about local school district facility planning on the Primary Education page.
Live Poll
Should your local school board sell closed school properties rather than repurposing them?
