Enrollment Drops in Central Bucks Schools

Central Bucks School District enrollment dropped by 342 students this year, a trend that is expected to continue until 2018.

In his annual report to the school board delivered Tuesday night, Superintendent Dr. N. Robert Laws said the district's enrollment as of October 1 stood at 20,092 students. That number is expected to continue to drop before leveling off at about 18,500, he said.

"That's fairly consistent with what the Pennsylvania Economy League projected for us," said Laws.

Enrollment in the district's 15 elementary schools is down by 270 students, said Laws. At the district's five middle schools, enrollment is down by 97 students. At the district's three high schools, it is up by 19 students.

Laws called the enrollment "in a more healthy range." He said all schools have room set aside for art and music instruction.  

"We're starting to have some elbow room in our schools," said Laws. "We haven't seen an enrollment decline in years."

The enrollment decline at Cold Spring Elementary Schools means four modular classrooms will no longer be needed after this year when their lease agreement expires, said Laws.

"I feel good about the numbers," said Laws. "We don't have any schools that are overcrowded."

The average elementary school class size in the district is about 24, with slightly lower numbers in the first few years of elementary school, and slightly higher numbers in grades 5 and 6, said Laws.

"Everything is within board policy," he said.

Laws said the district needs to do a better job getting the word out about registration. About 200 students registered in August, forcing the district the scramble to fill classrooms, hire teachers, and adjust bus routes, he said.