EDUCATION

Alabama public schools enroll nearly 5,000 fewer students

Krista Johnson
Montgomery Advertiser
Chairs in empty classroom

The departure of nearly 5,000 students enrolled in Alabama's public schools was the largest decline the state superintendent's staff could find in Alabama's history. 

In the 2018-2019 school year, 722,212 students enrolled in the state's public schools, compared to 726,924 the year before.  

"We're very concerned," state superintendent Eric Mackey said about the drop, explaining both urban and rural districts saw decreases. Additionally, he said it was the first time a decrease was seen in suburban school systems that have typically been stable or experienced growth. 

“It’s a very difficult year instructionally and that doesn’t even touch the surface on the issues we will have with these 5,000 students who are not in school and we don’t know where they are,” says Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey.

Of the 138 districts that existed both years, only 43 did not experience a decrease.

The districts to see the largest decreases include Mobile County Public Schools, Birmingham City Schools and Montgomery Public Schools, with 1,230, 732 and 582 less students respectively.

Mobile County is the state's largest district with over 50,000 students. 

Those with the largest increases were Limestone County School District, with an additional 920 students; Eufaula Public Schools with 805; and Baldwin County Public Schools with 498. 

Pointing to conversations with private school leaders that have also experienced a decrease in student enrollment, Mackey said a decrease in school-aged children in Alabama is the cause. 

"Across the state there's simply a lack of children due to the population decrease," he said.

A member of the state's census committee, Mackey added Alabama is not growing as fast as other states. 

Keivan Deravi, an AUM economics professor, agreed with that estimation, explaining that he has studied the rate of incoming college students in the past and observed a smaller number of students entering the college-ready pipeline. 

This, Deravi said, is one reason Alabama's major universities rely on the enrollment of out-of-state and international students. 

Aging demographics and a lack of migration into the state are problems too, along with the notion of "brain-drain," with college students leaving the state upon graduation.

"Economic opportunities outside of Alabama is much more appealing to the younger ones that have mobility," Deravi said, adding that economics is not about money, but rather, "about creating opportunity and linking it to the social and demographic trends."

To improve, Alabama must "look at social policies and growth policies to make sure we provide that opportunity."

More:MPS enrollment shrinks by nearly 600 students

For Alabama's public schools, the impact is that, "we have to think about ways to be more efficient," Mackey said, particularly in areas like feeding students, transportation and hiring staff. 

In the River Region, two of the three districts surrounding Montgomery County also experienced a decrease in enrollment. The Autauga County School System saw a drop of 153 students, and Elmore County Public Schools enrolled 39 less students than the previous year.

The Pike Road School District saw an increase of 256 students, opening its first high school this year. 

Enrollment is strongly correlated to funding for districts, presenting potential challenges to those that saw a significant decrease. 

For example, in MPS, the decrease in average daily membership between the 2016-2017 year compared to the 2017-2018 year costs the district $4.6 million in enrollment funding, based on state allocation numbers. 

While impossible to know if the state will fund the district at the same rate in 2020, based on those figures, the school system could be projected to receive $5.3 million less in the next fiscal year. 

Mackey was optimistic the state's enrollment decrease would not have an impact on the educational experience for students, saying that because the economy is doing well, his department is asking the Legislature to keep the funding in the classroom. 

Call Montgomery Advertiser reporter Krista Johnson at 334-303-9019 or email her at kjohnson3@gannett.com. You can also follow her on Twitter here.