USD 259 sees elementary school numbers increase after school closures

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)—For the first time since the pandemic, Wichita Public Schools saw an increase in elementary students this year. This is also the first year of state-wide open enrollment, which allows Kansas families to choose which district they’d like to be in.

Traditional K-12 enrollment in Wichita Public Schools increased by one student this school year. After factoring in a decrease in enrollment for adults in programs like degree completion, overall enrollment went down.

A representative for the district said there’s no indication open enrollment affected those numbers.

USD 259 has more about the same number of traditional K-12 students as last year and is seeing a 20-year high in high school students, now numbering 13,542, a slight increase over last year.

The district says open enrollment is not having a major impact on their numbers.

“We do know that we had 67 students who went through that open enrollment process that we have this year, but … we have hundreds that from outside the district who come every year,” said Susan Arensman, USD 259 communications supervisor.

The district is also seeing an increase in elementary students for the first time since COVID.

“We had seen a big decline after COVID, and so we’re starting to see those numbers go up, which is a good sign,” said Arensman.

The increase in enrollment comes after four elementary and two middle schools in the district were closed at the end of last school year.

School board members approved a plan that would close four more elementary schools, attributing the closures in large part to enrollment declines leading to decreases in funding.

“The rising elementary enrollment numbers this year, if that trend was to continue, could call into question a lot of choices we’re making and how we’re making the decisions that we’re making,” said Mike Harris, vice president of United Teachers of Wichita, the union representing USD 259 teachers.

He said that even if enrollment continues to rise, the district still has budget challenges to address.

Enrollment in elementary schools increased by a little more than 100 students this year compared to last year, while enrollment at special schools held steady.

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