Get email alerts on the Enrollment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
KCBA study: district K–12 enrollment down 18% in 10 years; elementary enrollment largely stable
Summary
KCBA presented a demographic analysis showing a 10‑year K–12 decline of about 297 students (~18%), concentrated in middle and high schools, while elementary enrollment projections will be roughly steady — the report quantified building capacities and modelled consolidation options.
KCBA consultants presented an updated demographic and facilities analysis for Palisades, combining Future Think data with local school visits and transportation records. Their presentation showed historical district‑wide enrollment declined by roughly 297 students (about 18%) over the past decade, with the largest losses in middle (−27%) and high school (−26%) grades. By contrast, elementary enrollment has been comparatively steady and is projected to remain near current levels over the next 10 years.
The consultants examined capacities at the district’s three elementary schools. Springfield was shown at about 80% capacity and houses roughly 34% of elementary students; Durham Nakamixon was about 74% capacity with an underused pre‑K room; and Tynum was the smallest facility at about 56% capacity with several underutilized spaces. Using a baseline of 25 pupils per classroom, KCBA modelled consolidation scenarios and concluded that closing any single elementary school would still require additions at receiving schools (examples: closing Springfield would require ~8 additional classrooms; closing Durham would require ~10; closing Tynum would require ~3).
The consultants also explored moving fifth grade to the middle school but cautioned the middle school’s classroom structure is organized around students rotating for classes, and that accommodating a 'home‑room style' fifth‑grade wing would need roughly five dedicated classrooms and further review with the middle‑school principal. Trustees requested additional deliverables — energy/operations cost estimates for each building, a high‑school capacity study similar to the elementary analysis, and demographic details about the district’s homeschool and charter populations — and KCBA agreed to return with that data.
"District‑wide enrollment has decreased by 18% which is predominantly from the middle school and high school," the presenter summarized. The study will inform facilities planning and any future redistricting or consolidation decisions but did not include a board decision at this meeting.
