San Antonio Schools' Enrollment is on the Decline, and Trend is Expected to Continue

The findings of a demographic study,Some proposals currently up for discussion by the
commissioned by Superintendent RobertSan Antonio schools' officials are:
Durón last fall and conducted by Harner and• School closures and consolidations,
Associates, was presented to the San Antoniousing the study findings. With the continual
schools' trustees in February. The study costdeparture of students from the San Antonio
$51,000 and will help San Antonio schools' officialsschools, this avenue is a given for future planning.
to handle their declining enrollment problem.• San Antonio schools board Vice
The study findings were not positive, expectingPresident James Howard has recommended
declining enrollment within the San Antonio schoolsconsolidating with neighboring school districts with
to continue over the next ten years with noenrollment declines, including Edgewood, South San
discernible improvement. It was found thatAntonio, and Harlandale. Such suggestions in the
enrollment has been on the decline for a decadepast have been met with controversy within
with recent years seeing the most studentBexar County, which has 16 school districts. As
departure. Between 2001 and 2002 school years,Howard pointed out to the San Antonio schools
the San Antonio schools lost 864 students.board, however, growth is to the north of the
Between 2005 and 2006 school years, they lostcity. It needs to happen for everyone's benefit.
1,340 students, representing about 18 percent of• Lastly, Superintendent Durón and
its student population. Some new studenthis staff are developing a new office within the
enrollment did help to offset these departures.San Antonio schools at a preliminary estimated
The study notes that the increasing enrollmentcost of $200,000. In the past, the San Antonio
decline is not unusual for urban school districts.schools' officials had made no effort to track
San Antonio schools, in particular, have a shortagedeparting students, though the Texas Education
of new developments for those families exiting toAgency has available resources for them to use.
the suburban areas. San Antonio schools alsoThey knew that many of their students were
must improve their programs to attract newleaving the San Antonio schools for Northside,
families - and new housing cannot take care ofNorth East and Judson school districts, as well as
the problem alone.abandoning the traditional public schools for charter
The current San Antonio schools' enrollment isand private schools. The new office will help the
55,364 students. The study predicts a worseSan Antonio schools do a better job of tracking
case scenario of 51,669 students by thestudent departures, gather data on families leaving
2016-2017 school year. The best case scenario isthe district, and survey those who remain. The
54,574 students by the 2016-2017 school year.purpose is to gain a better idea of what families
The average scenario of the worse and bestneed and want from the San Antonio schools.
case is 53,122 in ten years, which is the figure theThis proposal has yet to go before the San
San Antonio schools' officials will use for planningAntonio schools' board.
purposes.