Massachusetts Sees Decrease in Student Enrollment, Increase in Economically Disadvantaged Population

Earlier, I noted that the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students in the Lynn Public School District increased 6.9 points from the 2019-20 school year to the 2020-21 school year. Economically disadvantaged is defined as student participation in one or more of the following state administered programs: 

• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• the Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)
• the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program
• MassHealth (Medicaid)
  

Taking a look at the non-charter school districts in the state with the highest percentages of Economically Disadvantaged students this year, all of the top ten districts saw increases as well. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
Springfield	77.6%	81.8%	4.2
Holyoke	78.1%	81.4%	3.3
Lawrence	70.7%	78.5%	7.8
Southbridge	71.6%	77.2%	5.6
New   Bedford	68.0%	74.0%	6.0
Fall River	70.0%	73.8%	3.8
Chelsea	63.9%	70.6%	6.7
North Adams	61.9%	66.6%	4.7
Fitchburg	61.9%	66.4%	4.5
Brockton	57.5%	65.5%	8.0

Statewide, the percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students increased from 32.8% last year to 36.6% this year. In terms of pure numbers, this equates to the 333,829 Economically Disadvantaged students this year versus 310,873 in 2019-20. 

Data taken from: www.doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts Sees a 4% Drop in Public School Enrollment

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released updated public school enrollment figures for the 2020-21 school year. Amidst the pandemic and many districts moving to completely remote learning, the state reported a 4% decrease in student enrollment this year when compared to last year.

Specifically, at the lower grades the state reported at 30% decrease at the pre-kindergarten level, a 11.9% decrease at the kindergarten level and a 5.6% decrease at the first grade level. 

Similar to the Commonwealth as a whole, the Lynn Public School District saw a similar decrease at 3% compared to last school year.

While Lynn did see a slight increase in kindergarten students this year, the district also reported a 42% decrease in pre-kindergarten enrollment and a 11.5% decrease in first grade enrollment. 

Taking a look at the selected student populations at the state level, Massachusetts reported higher percentages of High Needs and Economically Disadvantaged students this year. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
First Language not English	23.0%	23.4%	0.4
English Language Learner	10.8%	10.5%	-0.3
Students w/ Disabilities	18.4%	18.2%	-0.2
High Needs	48.7%	50.9%	2.2
Economically Disadvantaged	32.8%	36.6%	3.8

 

In Lynn, despite a decrease in overall student population, the district reported increases in all of the selected student populations. 

	2019-20	2020-21	Difference
First Language not English	58.7%	61.3%	2.6
English Language Learner	29.8%	31.5%	1.7
Students w/ Disabilities	16.9%	17.7%	0.8
High Needs	76.0%	79.5%	3.5
Economically Disadvantaged	58.2%	65.1%	6.9

In addition to concerns around online learning and whether, when and how to reopen school buildings, changes in student populations, particularly in districts like Lynn, as it relates to the number of students but also the types of students the district is tasked with education given current circumstances is should be given consideration. 

Data from: www.doe.mass.edu