Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls to Close After 2027
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa will cease operations after the 2027 academic year, with remaining students receiving scholarships to other schools and the foundation shifting to a national scholarship program.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a boarding school near Johannesburg founded in 2007 for disadvantaged students, will close its doors after the 2027 school year, according to the BBC. About 280 pupils are currently enrolled, and those who will not graduate by then will be offered full scholarships to attend other institutions. Oprah Winfrey, 72, said the decision reflects a broader mission, stating, "The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn't end with one campus." The foundation plans to redirect its efforts toward a nationwide scholarship program for girls. The academy has faced criticism over its expensive facilities and allegations of mismanagement, but its supporters point to the achievements of its alumni.