The number of immigrants arriving in Denver may have slowed, but Denver Public Schools, which has struggled with declining enrollment for years, is seeing a steady pace of new students each week.
And district staffers warned during the board’s regular meeting on Thursday that, if the enrollment numbers continue to climb, budget “adjustments” may arise this year and next. That could potentially mean cuts.
The district saw roughly 300 students enroll since its last update in January. This time last school year, the district had 82,401 students, according to a district update on Thursday.
Now, the district has 84,327 students.
School officials credit students who are new to the country for turning around a decline that prompted the board of education to shutter three schools last school year. More closures are expected.
The pace of new enrollment has been steady — roughly 200 to 250 students enroll each week, officials said.
Although enrollment ebbs and flows throughout the year, the steady increase means the district has received 3,402 immigrant students this academic year.