Monday, December 7, 2020

Public School Enrollment Falls 23,000 Students

 The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement. 

The Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) preliminary analysis of public-school enrollment for the 2020-21 school year shows a drop in kindergarteners and spike in homeschoolers have driven the statewide decline in enrollment this year.

As of September 30, 2020, 442,627 students had enrolled in Mississippi public schools, a more than 23,000 drop from last September’s total of 465,913.

The following factors contributed to the decline:

  • 4,345 fewer kindergartens enrolled in 2020-21, compared to the same time last year. Over the previous three years (2017-18 to 2019-20) kindergarten enrollment dropped by a cumulative total of 1,015 students. 
  • Homeschool enrollment increased from 18,758 last year to 25,489 this year, removing an additional 6,731 students from public-school attendance rolls.
  • 1,603 students enrolled in school after September 30, compared to 208 late registrants last year.
  • Mississippi public-school enrollment has been declining annually, dropping an average of 5,511 students each year over the past three years.

Other factors that contribute to enrollment declines include students moving out of state and students entering private schools.

Mississippi’s School Attendance Officers (SAO) have been working with districts to ensure all compulsory school-age children whose families have not re-enrolled them in local public schools are registered in a learning environment. SAOs work to secure documentation for every student who leaves public school to validate their status. As of December 3, 2020, SAOs have validated the status of all but 1,156 students. That figure is similar to previous years.

State law requires children ages 6-17 to be enrolled in public or private school or a homeschool program. Families who enroll their 5-year-olds in kindergarten are also subject to the attendance law.

“Mississippi school districts have been working under extraordinary conditions to ensure all students in their communities are engaged in learning,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Teachers, principals, districts leaders, school attendance officers and families have done a heroic job meeting the daily challenges of the pandemic.”

Annual state- and district-level enrollment data as of September 30 is posted on the MDE public reporting website: newreports.mdek12.org.

 

 

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Correlates to rise in crime-

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen the school portion of ad valorem (property) taxes reduced, so where is the money going?

Anonymous said...

road warrior is about 5 years away. the only hope is living on an island

Anonymous said...

"State law requires children ages 6-17 to be enrolled in public or private school or a home school program. Families who enroll their 5-year-olds in kindergarten are also subject to the attendance law."

This is to justify obscene levels of funding where at over $10,000 per student HAVE to know where those bodies are to support the ridiculous administrative salaries and other useless jobs within the bureaucracy. The mandatory "law" has absolutely NOTHING to do with actual education.

If they want to make up the financial shortfall, fire Carey Wright for a start and save $350,000 per year.

Anonymous said...

12:02 Guess you haven't heard of teacher employment contracts. Schools made staffing decisions back in March based on expected numbers. Just because a number of students stay home doesn't mean school costs are going down. If this is a long-term trend (doubtful) then it won't show up until next year's operations.

Anonymous said...

less people 25-40 in the state...less kids in school.

Anonymous said...

The exodus of millennials who can leave this shithole state continues.

Anonymous said...

Best thing we ever did was pull our kids out of public school, and we supposedly live in a 'good' school district. If you're not going to homeschool your kids, private school is the way to go if you can afford it. I'm just sorry that it took us so long to see the light.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi spends $8,700 per year per student. Does this mean that Mississippi will save (8,700 * $23,000 = $200,100,000.00) per year?

Anonymous said...

We are last in the nation in education. How would enlightened leadership turn this news into a positive outcome for our children? Or are we just doomed?

Which way Mississippi?

Anonymous said...

With less students but funding remaining the same effectively more dollars will be spent per student. Therefore, if we are to believe the hue and cries that education needs more money, outcomes should improve. Want to bet they do not?

Anonymous said...

3:09 makes a great point. If Ms averages spending $8,700 per student then this is over $200 million less in spending. Remember that the next time the education folk ask for more money.

Anonymous said...

This COVID garbage has made a lot of people wake up as to how awful government influence is and how little you can trust it. From 4 families I know personally (3 African-American), they didn’t want their kids in an environment where they would be forced to wear masks and not allowed to be kids. Their children are thriving and getting a real education and not just learning how to be the next crop of SJW’s.

Anonymous said...

The teachers union hierarchy continually screams that money is the answer. Anyone with business sense knows that if money is the answer it is a stupid question. People solve problems, not money. We continue to have poorly educated students because the people in control want it that way. The dumbing down and indoctrination of the nation are nearing completion. It won't be much longer at the rate we are progressing.

Anonymous said...

I barely passed high school but owned and operated 2 businesses in my life and understand that having no customers doesn't mean there are no bills to pay. The last business I operated had 2 employees and it cost me $313 to open the doors every morning I feel certain that most modern, well equipped schools have bond issues owed, contracted monthly services, contracted labor, regular maintenance on HVAC, etc., and a great deal more that I'm not familiar with to pay.

Whoever believes that school districts will realize a savings of 100% of average student costs for any or all that are missing for any length of time needs to go back to get a better education?

Anonymous said...

6:43 I hardly know where to start. Apparently you don't know the difference between fixed costs and marginal costs. Yes, it costs you $313 per day to open your doors. Does that mean that if you have one customer it costs your $313 per day but 100 customers costs you $31,300 to open your doors per day? Of course not. The costs per school of having 27 kids per classroom versus 25 kids per classroom are not great. Is it a 100% cost savings? No, but you better believe the cost savings percentage is quite high.

Anonymous said...

Someone tell me what school in Mississippi has a teacher's union?

Anonymous said...

@3:09pm As of January 10, 2019....it's $10,000 per student.

https://mspolicy.org/mississippi-now-spending-over-10000-per-student/

Most of that money goes to pay for bloated administrative salaries for far too many superintendents, etc.

Anonymous said...

Good job 6:43, at least you've done more for your self than others that were in the same situation. Wish I knew you.

Anonymous said...

Cost per student (MAEP) for the 20-21 school year was determined by average daily attendance during the 19-20 school year. Based on that number, teachers were issued contracts for 20-21. A drop in 20-21 attendance will be finacially reflected in the 21-22 school year.

Anonymous said...

JPD leadership failed it students... why isnt this a bigger deal? other public schools in area are meeting in person. JPD went with all virtual back in August and have not deviated.. once again the children are made to suffer while the chicken shit admin keeps getting that fat check

https://www.news9.com/story/5fce68a2ad71610b8ca628a9/allremote-learning-is-failing-many-students-all-across-the-country:-these-children-are-struggling

Anonymous said...

JPS will go back in January. It will be interesting to see how things pan out. I can only imagine the remedial work that will have to be done.

I'd like to see these kids going to school year round.

Anonymous said...

So glad parents are removing their kids from public schools.

Anonymous said...

"...the only hope is living on an island." December 7, 2020 at 12:11 PM

The irony of a December 7 post touting the safety of an island.


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