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State demographer: Brainerd Public Schools could lose roughly one‑fifth of enrollment in a decade
Summary
State demographer Hazel Reinhardt told the Brainerd School Board the district’s resident enrollment fell roughly 15% over the past decade and, under current trends, could decline another 21–24% in 10 years — driven by falling births, nonpublic school growth, homeschooling and open enrollment out.
Hazel Reinhardt, identified in the meeting as a state demographer, told the Brainerd Public Schools Board that resident enrollment has dropped sharply and that current demographic trends point to further declines.
Reinhardt presented a long‑range enrollment study showing resident enrollment in Brainerd Public Schools decreased by 893 students — about 15% — over the past 10 years. She said total enrollment fell by 896 students in that period and stressed the decline is driven primarily by a drop in residents attending district schools rather than by fewer nonresident students.
The study cites three main contributors to the loss: more district residents choosing nonpublic schools, a rise in homeschooling, and continued open enrollment out.…
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