Simsbury enrollment dips below 4,000; officials link shortfall to housing mix and private‑school moves

Simsbury Public Schools reported K–12 enrollment of 3,980 as of the first Friday of the school year, a decrease of 81 students from last year’s October report and about 60 students below the district’s projection of 4,040. District administrators told the Board of Education on Sept. 9 that kindergarten estimates were close to projections but that declines in other grades produced the overall shortfall.

Neil (district administrator) and board members discussed possible drivers: fewer young families moving into town, housing developments with a lower share of two‑bedroom units (which board members said will produce fewer school‑age children), and an increase in families who reclassify and move to private or prep schools for athletic or academic reasons. The district cited an example development at Iron Horse called Luminary with about 180 units but reportedly fewer two‑bedroom apartments, which board members suggested will limit new student yields.

Administrators noted budgetary consequences: the district had budgeted to reduce two elementary classroom teacher positions but said cohorting and classroom distribution prevented those reductions even with a 40‑student drop in K–6. The district reported some staffing savings at the high school from lower enrollments but emphasized that class‑by‑class cohorting affects the ability to reduce staff evenly.

Board members asked for additional analysis at the October meeting, including a breakdown of where new housing is located, unit size mix and how recent development has translated to student counts. Neil said the district will bring an October report with a preschool addendum and more detailed analyses of development impacts and cohort movement.

Administrators also flagged a modest increase in families choosing private schools and prep programs for athletic reasons; the district described the phenomenon as ongoing but said the net counts were small and would be presented with October detail.