The numbers game

Much attention has been paid to BVSD claims of declining enrollment, and declining enrollment was used to justify the closing of three schools in 2003. But in fact, total enrollment has actually grown by more than 7% since 1997-’98, and district enrollment is at an all-time high. What is changing is the distribution of students. State-mandated open enrollment means that parents and students may choose to attend a school other than their designated neighborhood school, provided space is available. In BVSD, about 11% of students enroll in a school other than their designated neighborhood school, including charter schools, focus schools, or other schools both within and outside the district. This year, 1,938 students from other school districts enrolled in BVSD schools, bringing their state funding with them.

When compared to other metro-area school districts, Boulder Valley generally has more small schools—and proportionately more schools—to hold its student population. The result is excess capacity at some schools. Boulder Valley also scores higher than other metro-area school districts on standardized tests. There is ample, well-documented evidence that children learn more and perform better in smaller schools. It’s likely that our smaller schools are one of the root causes of BVSD students' superior performance. Closing small schools reduces the district's desirability to out-of-district students.

School choice increases the educational options available to families, but it also makes it very difficult for the district to balance enrollment across schools. Special programs offered at particular schools—ELL, SPED, various charter schools and focus programs—tend to concentrate distinct student populations in a few schools, increasing the perception of inequality. Parents may select schools on the basis of proximity to employment, school test scores and ratings, or other personal reasons. Over-subscribed schools wind up overcrowded or with sub-par temporary “quonset hut” classrooms. And undersubscribed schools are threatened with closure.

Balancing the diverse needs and preferences of over 28,000 students across 11 cities, towns and communities is a huge challenge. And it has driven the BVSD Board to crisis-mode decision-making. Smaller districts would likely be better able to monitor population and enrollment trends and respond sensibly to change within their communities.

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