Shawnee Mission School District reveals open enrollment capacities for 2025-2026 school year

Open enrollment took center stage at the Shawnee Mission School District Board Meeting on April 28, 2025, as officials outlined new capacity guidelines for the upcoming school year. The district's leadership, including Dr. Chris Lowe and Ms. Kristi Darby, presented a detailed report on the open enrollment process, emphasizing adherence to state laws and board policies.

The key recommendation for elementary schools includes capping kindergarten enrollment at 16 students for Title schools and 18 for non-Title schools, a decrease from previous years. This adjustment aims to manage class sizes effectively, with guidelines set at 22 for grades one and two, and 22 or 25 for grades three through six. The rationale behind these changes stems from past experiences where unexpected enrollment spikes led to overcrowded classrooms.

Dr. Lowe highlighted the importance of monitoring capacity closely, noting that schools exceeding 525 students, including pre-K, would be closed to further enrollment. Schools such as Apache, Chewanno, and Brookridge are among those identified for capacity restrictions.

The middle and high school levels also face tight enrollment limits, with Indian Hills Middle School already closed to new students due to capacity issues. The district reported limited openings for out-of-district students, with only five spots available for eighth graders at Indian Woods Middle School and none for seventh graders.

Board members raised concerns about the implications of these restrictions, particularly regarding the potential for elementary students to be unable to transition into middle schools due to limited capacity. The district acknowledged the need for ongoing evaluation of enrollment trends to ensure that future classes can be accommodated.

As the meeting concluded, the board moved to approve the enrollment report, which outlines the capacity and open seats available for the 2025-2026 school year, setting the stage for a careful balancing act between maintaining quality education and managing growing demand.