Comparing Massachusetts' Public School Enrollment: 1993 versus 2018

Currently, the Massachusetts State Legislature is set to revisit discussion around the public school funding formula which was initially implemented with the Education Reform Act of 1993. In 25 years, aside from minor changes, the funding formula has remained largely unchanged despite a significantly different educational and financial environment than the one that existed a quarter century ago. Additionally, in that time, the state's student population has changed as well.

First, the public K-12 student population has increased 8%. The state's largest five districts in 1993-94 were Boston, Springfield, Worcester, New Bedford and Lowell representing 15.8% of the state's school population; Brockton and Lynn have since replace the latter two districts rounding out a group that now represents 14% of state public school enrollment.

Second, the percentage of Hispanic/Latino students has increased 12 points and the Asian student population 4.3.

More importantly, however, the percentage of English Language Learners has doubled in the past 25 years. (Note: The metric for defining low income/economically disadvantaged has changed in recent years such that it is not possible to make a historical comparison).

Boston, the state's largest district, has also seen shifts in the past two decades. Most notably, the African American/Black population has declined while the Hispanic/Latino population has nearly doubled.

Similar to the state overall, Boston has also seen an increase in the English Language Learner population.

In 1993-94, there were 63,738 students enrolled in the Boston Public School District; this year enrollment is 51,443.

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For more information on the Massachusetts Chapter 70 Funding Formula:

• Demystifying the Chapter 70 Funding Formula: How the Massachusetts Education Funding System Works
• Public School Funding in Massachusetts: Where We Are, What Has Changed, and How We Compare to Other States

For more on the proposed PROMISE Act: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/SD101


Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has also put forth a proposal to make changes to way that the state funds its public schools.

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Source: www.doe.mass.edu