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At one time the fastest growing school district in the state, Community Consolidated School District 93 officials are now seeing a drop in their enrollment numbers.
But the decline is not alarming school officials.
“Even with being down over 1,000 children, every school is full,” Superintendent William R. Shields said. “We’re still looking for classroom space. We’re as crowded as ever. But we’ve maintained very low class sizes and that’s something we’re proud of.”
The decline is expected to continue for the next four years before rebounding.
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By the numbers 5,100 Number of students enrolled between 1997 and 2000 3,969 Current enrollment |
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“Kindergarten and first-grade numbers are starting to hold,” Shields said. “Our middle schools are most impacted right now.”
Board of Education members heard a presentation on District 93 prepared by demographic consultant John D. Kasarda at their May 27 meeting. His report examined district population and housing trends and the implications they could have on future enrollment.
Some of the slump has been attributed to the housing market.
“Certainly with the economy the way it is, housing turnover isn’t what people expected,” Shields said.
Low birth rates are also a factor. Between 1989 and 2009, birth rates in District 93 lagged, according to Kasarda’s presentation. But the rate has stabilized in the last three years.
School officials said the data suggests kindergarten enrollment next fall will remain close to the 396 enrolled in the 2009-2010 school year.
Paul Dart, assistant superintendent for business, said the decline could have a slight effect on state funding, but not enough to be substantive.
“Our general state aid will stay somewhat constant,” he said. “That’s if the state pays us.”
Shields anticipates the Board of Education discussing the issue again in the fall.
“There are no plans to change facilities or boundaries at this point,” he said. “We did the study because we don’t want to be sidelined or surprised by some trend we didn’t know was going on. This keeps us on pace of where we need to go.”
At one time the fastest growing school district in the state, Community Consolidated School District 93 officials are now seeing a drop in their enrollment numbers.
But the decline is not alarming school officials.
“Even with being down over 1,000 children, every school is full,” Superintendent William R. Shields said. “We’re still looking for classroom space. We’re as crowded as ever. But we’ve maintained very low class sizes and that’s something we’re proud of.”
The decline is expected to continue for the next four years before rebounding.
|
By the numbers 5,100 Number of students enrolled between 1997 and 2000 3,969 Current enrollment |
|
“Kindergarten and first-grade numbers are starting to hold,” Shields said. “Our middle schools are most impacted right now.”
Board of Education members heard a presentation on District 93 prepared by demographic consultant John D. Kasarda at their May 27 meeting. His report examined district population and housing trends and the implications they could have on future enrollment.
Some of the slump has been attributed to the housing market.
“Certainly with the economy the way it is, housing turnover isn’t what people expected,” Shields said.
Low birth rates are also a factor. Between 1989 and 2009, birth rates in District 93 lagged, according to Kasarda’s presentation. But the rate has stabilized in the last three years.
School officials said the data suggests kindergarten enrollment next fall will remain close to the 396 enrolled in the 2009-2010 school year.
Paul Dart, assistant superintendent for business, said the decline could have a slight effect on state funding, but not enough to be substantive.
“Our general state aid will stay somewhat constant,” he said. “That’s if the state pays us.”
Shields anticipates the Board of Education discussing the issue again in the fall.
“There are no plans to change facilities or boundaries at this point,” he said. “We did the study because we don’t want to be sidelined or surprised by some trend we didn’t know was going on. This keeps us on pace of where we need to go.”
