MARBLEHEAD — Across the state, public schools are facing a steady decline in enrollment. In Marblehead, the decline is a plummet nearly four times the state average.
According to data from the Department of Education, since 2018, Marblehead Public Schools had a net student loss of 495. This number represents a 16 percent decrease in enrollment over six years. In comparison, the average enrollment drop statewide was around 4.5 percent in the same time frame.
While nearly every school district saw enrollment drops following the pandemic, Marblehead’s decline started more than a decade ago. Superintendent John Buckey explained, “Marblehead has and continues to work with the New England School Development Council on enrollment projections. They have been indicating since 2010 that Marblehead would see declining enrollment.”
He continued, “When the new elementary school project was being developed, they made adjustments to the scope of the project based on the realization that enrollment has been declining since 2010…. [The Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity] has also seen a decline in enrollment.”
Buckey attributed this major decline to multiple factors, “While there was a period of unrest in the school department and with the School Committee, Interim Superintendent Bill McAlduff raised the issue of declining enrollment with the leadership team, noting the lower birth rate projections NESDEC had identified.”
He continued by pointing out other educational institutions in the area. “Marblehead has significant competition within our community for education options — a charter school, a private school and a Jewish day school.”
The decreasing numbers are a double edged sword, Buckey described. “The decrease in enrollment in light of COVID has allowed us to decrease class size, which has been a benefit as we have not significantly reduced staff. This permits us to better mitigate some of the impact of interrupted education as a result of the pandemic.” With less students, however, the school receives less funding. “Enrollment decline results in reduced Chapter 70 funding and some of our entitlement funding,” he remarked.
Despite the shocking decline, Buckey is optimistic for the school system’s future. “COVID has certainly had a dramatic impact on enrollment, but we are seeing that change. Our middle school has had an additional 28 students enroll this summer.”
Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
