In line with state, Lynn school rolls down slightly

LYNN – Enrollment in the Lynn Public Schools is slightly lower this year than last, again keeping with state trends that show a decline in school enrollment throughout Massachusetts.According to numbers released in a new study by Salem State College Assistant Professor of Economics Ken Ardon, Massachusetts’ schools have seen a collective decline of nearly 24,000 students, 2.5 percent, over the last five years. Ardon’s study, released by the Pioneer Institute, projects that this number will continue to grow, and could reach 60,000 students over the next decade.While the professor’s study shows that urban school districts are experiencing the highest decline, Lynn’s preliminary enrollment numbers show only a slight drop-off overall, and some high enrollment increases in individual elementary schools.Lynn Public Schools served 13,481 students during the 2007-08 school year, a number that has fallen slightly to 13,410 as of preliminary head count numbers released Sept. 25 of this year.According to Ardon, a principle cause of the enrollment decline in Massachusetts is the state’s slowing rate of population growth, 0.2 percent per year on average since 2000, compared to 1 percent in the rest of the country.If the rate of growth had kept pace with the rest of the country, there would be approximately 350,000 more people living in the state today, including an estimated 50,000 additional school children.While the numbers in Lynn do show a slight decline, many schools are experiencing overcrowding issues this year due to the district’s decision to close two elementary schools last year. As a result, Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Kostan has been forced to split classes and move teaching assignments to alleviate the problem.Of the city’s 18 elementary schools, 11 have experienced at least some increase in enrollment, with the Connery, Cobbet, Drewicz, Ingalls and Tracy schools taking on the largest number of pupils.The Cobbet Elementary School located on Franklin Street had the largest increase with 85 new students coming in this year while the Connery added 56 new faces. Other schools that had increases were the Sewell-Anderson, Lincoln-Thompson, Lynn Woods and Harrington elementary schools.While younger students continue to change schools and bump up enrollment, the district’s overall numbers fell the most at the middle and high school level.Of the three high schools, Lynn Classical and Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute both experienced a decline of 103 students each, while Lynn English actually added 17 students this year.Breed Middle School’s enrollment is down 77 students, Marshall’s is down 37 and Pickering has four less students than in 2007-08. The Ford School, which has students in grades K-8, had a total decline of 12 students this year.Part of the decline at the middle school level could be blamed on the KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, which serves grades 5-8. KIPP has a total enrollment of 304 students, most of who are from Lynn, the highest number of which are in the fifth grade -93 students.Ardon’s report suggests that charter schools account for only one-fifth of the state’s total decline, and suggested that urban communities could stem the outflow of students by increasing the number of charter schools as an alternative option in the community.Ardon, a California native, worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Executive Office of Administration and Finance from 2000-2004. Since 2004, he has been an assistant professor of economics at Salem State College. Ardon is also a member of Pioneer Institute’s Center for School Reform Advisory Board.