In the first half of my educational career in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, new schools appeared practically overnight. Rapid growth and expanding suburbs defined my professional world.
When I arrived in Michigan 15 years ago, I quickly learned populations aren’t booming everywhere. Several regions, including the rural area where my 2,000-student district is located, have seen steep population declines, especially among younger families.
This impacts schools as seriously as rapid growth, but with more negative downsides. It’s the problem nobody wants to talk about even though it affects districts nationwide.
4 big impacts of enrollment decline
Declining populations ripple through school systems in four ways: funding, staffing, programming, and facilities.
- Funding. States tie aid to student counts. Fewer students mean less money, but costs for staffing, buildings, and transportation don’t shrink at the same pace.
- Staffing. Enrollment declines eventually require reductions. Attrition and reassignment soften the impact, but layoffs hurt morale and culture.
- Programming. Smaller budgets and fewer staff cut electives, extracurriculars, and support services, narrowing student opportunities.
- Facilities. Underused schools still cost money. Closings or consolidations become inevitable, sparking community resistance and perceptions of decline.
Schools are vital community anchors, so these challenges hit rural schools especially hard. Mishandling them damages identity and fuels negative momentum. For superintendents, addressing enrollment decline demands courage, determination and resilience.
Maximizing building use
When I assumed my superintendent role, the district fund balance hovered around 5%, risking state intervention. The board told me, “Fix the finances. If you need to make hard decisions, we’ll support them.”…