[5] In 2013, Sheryl Owens became the superintendent, marking a historic moment as the first African American woman in the Hughes district to hold that position.
The community repurposed the high school gymnasium into an after-school center, demonstrating efforts to utilize the remaining facilities.
Education Week stated that "The squat, brick buildings that were part of the Hughes district are in various stages of disrepair.
"[5] In its final years, the Hughes School District had 318 students, with 94% being eligible for free or reduced lunches, indicating high levels of poverty.
Former Hughes board member Lincoln Barnett stated that several area businesses, as a result of the district closure, encountered financial problems.