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Public commenter urges district study of retention after cited enrollment decline
Summary
A public commenter urged the board to study student retention and longitudinal growth after citing a district enrollment decline; the commenter called for disaggregated, cohort‑based growth data and benchmark assessments to guide policy.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, a resident identified as Doctor Wei urged the board to address student retention and to use disaggregated, longitudinal growth measures to understand why students leave.
Doctor Wei told the board that, based on New Jersey Department of Education enrollment data he cited at the meeting, district enrollment fell by 90 students between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years and that the lower middle school lost 17 students in that period. He said those losses raise questions about whether students are transferring to other districts or schools, seeking different programs, or leaving for other reasons.
"Retention is about more than numbers," Doctor Wei said, arguing that retention reflects family perceptions, student supports and whether the district is delivering on academic and emotional growth. He urged the district to analyze who is leaving and when using cohort comparisons and benchmark assessments such as STAR to measure individual student growth rather than relying only on annual state tests.
Doctor Wei asked the board to pursue a deeper dive into retention, disaggregated longitudinal data and predictive indicators so the district can identify students at risk and address gaps in time to retain them. He did not ask the board to take immediate action at the meeting, but requested that the board and administration prioritize follow‑up analysis and discussion.
