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Kirkwood reports modest enrollment decline; VIC transfer program shrinking to 27 students
Summary
District officials reported a net enrollment decrease (131 students total; resident enrollment down 117) and said the nonresident VIC transfer program has declined from about 480 in 2008'09 to 27 this year and is projected to continue shrinking.
Dr Matt Bailey presented the official 2024'25 enrollment report to the Kirkwood School District board on Oct. 28, saying the district's official count (taken the last Wednesday of September) showed a modest decline in enrollment.
"Resident enrollment has decreased 117 students since last school year," Dr Bailey said, and he told the board total enrollment decreased by 131 students. He reported total district enrollment (including non-resident and employee children) at approximately 5,706 individuals and provided a building-by-building breakdown of English-learner, IEP and gifted program counts.
Dr Bailey highlighted the long-term decline in interdistrict transfers: "At one point VIC enrollment was 480 in the 2008 2009 school year; this year we are at 27," and he said the youngest VIC student is currently in second grade, so the program is aging out. He noted the district does not control VIC admissions and directs inquiries to the VIC office; the decline reflects broader program changes tied to settlement outcomes referenced in the meeting.
Board members pressed for context. A board member noted the sharp drop in kindergarten counts and asked how it will affect district planning; Dr Bailey said he will provide additional demographic analysis and Dr Coffrin will present projections to the board in a future meeting. Another member raised concern about whether declining free-and-reduced-lunch percentages at Robinson could jeopardize Title I eligibility; board members said they would monitor that funding source.
Dr Bailey also reported building maintenance and capital-related payments described earlier in the meeting (for boiler lease payments and paving/track projects) and answered procedural questions about the official enrollment snapshot date.
Next steps: staff will provide deeper demographic reporting in a coming meeting and follow up on questions about kindergarten declines and Title I funding implications.
