Livonia enrollment stabilizes; fall 2024 count down 38.71 FTE, elementary up after young-fives expansion

Livonia Public Schools reported a small net decline in its October 2024 count: the district is down 38.71 full‑time-equivalent (FTE) students compared with the same date in 2023, presented to the board at the Dec. 9 Committee of the Whole.

District enrollment staff framed the change as a stabilization: “We are down only 38.71 students,” presenter Jen Keats said, adding that this is “the lowest number we have seen in all of the years that are represented on this chart here” and calling the result “a point of celebration.” Keats explained that the FTE figure includes fractional counts for shared-time and special-education placements, which produce decimals on the district’s accounting charts.

Elementary enrollment rose overall by 130.81 FTE, driven in part by an expansion of the district’s young‑fives program to six elementary sites. Keats said young‑fives enrollment increased from the mid‑60s last year to roughly 130–135 students this fall and credited the program for earlier family engagement and acclimation to school routines.

At the same time, the district reduced the number of parochial schools served through its share‑time program by eight sites, which cost the district 35.32 FTE. Keats noted that because the overall net decline is roughly equal to the share‑time reduction, the number of Livonia students enrolled in district schools (excluding those count changes due to share‑time contracts) is notably stable.

Secondary enrollment showed modest decreases at most buildings, with Emerson as an exception; Keats described those shifts as typical year‑to‑year fluctuations tied to cohort size and graduating seniors. The district also reported small changes in special‑program enrollment that reflect building moves and program consolidations (for example, moves associated with the ECC project), with a net increase of nine students across the RISE, Garfield, and LTP programs.

Board members praised the district’s messaging and programming. Mrs. Burton said the stabilization was notable given broader demographic trends: “The birth rate is continuing to decline and we’re not — that says really fabulous things to me about our enrollment.” Mr. Johnson added that “programs alone won’t bring the people in if you don’t get the message out,” commending communications work.

Keats said the cabinet and principals consider multiple indicators each year — kindergarten registrations, outgoing seniors, principal projections, housing developments and program registrations — when forecasting enrollment for budgeting and staffing.