Is District 89’s Enrollment Decline Finally Bottoming Out?

Student enrollment in Community Consolidated School District 89, which has steadily fallen by over 800 students over the past 20 years, may finally hit bottom and start to rise over the next few years, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to the paper, enrollment dropped by 28 students in 2013 versus 2012, a slowing if not a stemming of the exodus; the district expects to grow from the current 1,843 students to about 1,950 by 2018.

"At some point in time, this enrollment will turn around," John Perdue, district superintendent, told the paper. "I think the housing market and economy has so much to do with enrollment,” adding that the D89 area is short on attractions for new families at the moment.

In the meantime, the paper said, the school district is using a controversial administrative transfer policy, busing kids to out-of-area schools in order to even out class sizes and save on teacher salaries and classroom space.

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune website.