Where have all the children gone?

In 1999, there were 5,595 children in elementary schools in Lawrence. Last September, there were 4,886, a loss of 709 children.

Where have all the children gone?

In 2003, the school board closed three elementary schools: Riverside with an enrollment of 110; Centennial with an enrollment of 179; and East Heights with an enrollment of 151.

These schools were consolidated with other neighborhood schools. Children from Riverside were to go to Deerfield and Pinckney. Out of Riverside’s 110 enrollments, only 61 showed up at Deerfield and Pinckney this past year. Out of Centennial’s 170 children only 51 enrolled in Broken Arrow and Cordley in 2003. And out of East Heights’ 2002 enrollment of 151, only 72 enrolled in Kennedy and New York in 2003.

Where have all the children gone?

In 2004, the predicted enrollment of New York will be 143. That is eight fewer students than East Heights had in 2002, when it was closed.

In 2004, Cordley is predicted to have 198 students, only 19 more students than Centennial had when it was closed.

In 2004, Pinckney is predicted to have a total of 27 more students than it had in 2002, before the consolidation with Riverside and its 110 students.

Where have all the children gone?

In 2003, Lawrence lost 219 elementary students. In 2004, the school administration predicts that the elementary schools will lose another 80 students. And although they don’t provide projections beyond one year, there is no sign that enrollment will increase for many years into the future.

This loss of children is taking its toll on the junior highs and senior highs.

In 2003, there were five more children enrolled in the junior highs than were enrolled in 1999. In 2004, the projection is that there will be 43 fewer students enrolled than in 1999.

In 2003, there were 50 more children in the senior highs than there were in 1999. Although the administration does not project it, it is likely that there will be fewer students in the senior highs in 2005 than there were enrolled in 1999.

Where have all the children gone?

Lawrence is growing. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Kansas. But enrollment in our public schools is rapidly shrinking.

Where have all the children gone, and why?

Arly Allen lives in Lawrence’s Centennial Neighborhood.