One theory being used to explain the continuing decline in enrollment in Lawrence public schools is a slowing economy.

Supt. Randy Weseman points to this year’s 79-student decline at Quail Run School as an example.

As the economic slowdown has continued, it has cost Lawrence residents relatively high-paying jobs. Those homeowners, in turn, are forced to move, leaving upscale homes that are slow to sell during hard economic times.

Because those families haven’t been replaced in the neighborhood, the theory goes, there are fewer children to attend the school.

Cheri Drake, president of the Lawrence Board of Realtors and a broker with TeamOne Real Estate, said she doubted the decline in enrollment in west Lawrence schools had to do with fewer families living in homes in the area.

But she conceded that the upper-end housing market, generally considered to be houses around the $300,000 mark, had slowed since Sept. 11.

“The upper end of the market had been a little slower after the events of 9-11, but we’ve seen some pretty good movement this summer that has cleared off some of the inventory,” Drake said.

Another reason she doubted the real estate market had any effect on enrollments was that many of the upper-end houses were purchased by older couples who usually wouldn’t have grade-school-age children. In other words, the houses that may be sitting empty probably weren’t home to grade-school children.

“I’m betting that the enrollment in the private schools is more the cause,” Drake said.

According to hometown.-lawrence.com, there were 17 houses listed for sale in the Quail Run neighborhood Friday. Seven of those were in the $300,000-and-above price range.