AAPS student count: Up 80, but down 50 from projections
Student enrollment in the Ann Arbor School District grew, but not at the pace predicted, when the annual fall count was taken last week. Missing the target by 50 students means a loss of $465,000 in expected revenue at a time when the district already is looking to cut $15 million.
The financial impact, said Liz Margolis, director of communications for the district, “won’t be huge.”
When the statewide count was taken Oct. 5, Ann Arbor schools had 80 more students compared with a year ago —16,589 students compared with 16,509 — showing less than a 1/2 percent growth. This fall’s count won’t be official until next month when the Washtenaw Intermediate School District certifies the numbers.
The fall count is critical for each district’s budget. The state per pupil foundation grant is based on the number of students who are in school on this day. Ann Arbor Schools receives $9,300 for each student.
Ann Arbor had predicted a 130-student increase this fall, Margolis said, when it widened its school of choice options. While Ann Arbor Schools offers relatively narrow Schools of Choice options — only kindergarten, first and sixth grade students from outside district borders are allowed to attend Ann Arbor schools, space permitting — the district changed a policy this year that now allows siblings of admitted Schools of Choice students into the district, even if they are not K-1 or sixth-graders. The expected increase from this policy change did not materialize, Margolis said. “Still, 80 is a pretty nice number.”
Most of the growth was at the elementary level: There were 62 more elementary students this year compared with a year ago and 19 more middle-school students.
Carpenter School saw the biggest boost with 35 more students than a year ago. Wines followed with an increase of 33. Thurston and Northside had the largest losses, with 32 and 27, respectively. The unexpectedly large loss at Thurston is what caused a split class in grades 1-2 that resulted in a group of unhappy parents appealing to school administrators. The spilt remains.
Middle school enrollment saw a 37-pupil increase at Clague and a 58-student drop at Scarlett, with the other middle schools seeing more modest gains. High school enrollment dropped by one. This is the first year Skyline High School has all four grades after adding one grade each year since it opened in 2008. Skyline has eliminated the days when 3,000 students were packed into Pioneer High School. This fall’s enrollment for the three high schools is 1,620 for Pioneer, 1,611 for Huron and 1,526 for Skyline, Margolis said.
This was the fifth or sixth year that the fall count day saw about 30 students who had started at Ann Arbor schools leave to attend charter schools before the headcount was taken, Margolis said. The largest number of these students are from Carpenter School, and many of them return to Ann Arbor Schools after count day, Margolis said, even though the district does not receive state funding for them. “It’s not equitable,” she said, “and frustrating.”
The state changed the way its two count days are weighted this year. The fall count will be worth 90 percent of state aid, rather than 75 percent in past years. The February count will now be worth only 10 percent, compared with 25 percent in the past.
Comments
a2edu
Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
Only when fiscally prudent board members run and are elected by the public will the insanity of 6 high schools in Ann Arbor be addressed. But the real money suck comes from the bloated, incompetent mess that is Balas Administration Bldg. This community spends way too much on useless administrators (most of whom need consultants to help them figure out how to do their jobs). If you want to improve student achievement in Ann Arbor, get rid of 80 % of the deadwood employees at Balas (who have nothing to do with students anyway).
AMOC
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
The gossip among parents I know is that at least some of the enrollment drop at both Thurston and Northside is due to parents who are unhappy with the school climate / bullying incidents and with the reaction of those schools' principals to the parents' concerns. The unhappy parents who could get their kids into charter schools or can afford an Ann Arbor private school have moved their kids, with a concomitant loss of students and dollars for AAPS. I'd like AnnArbor.com to dig into the reasons so many Ann Arbor parents place their students in private or charter schools, compared to say, Plymouth-Canton, Bloomfield Hills or Livonia. Is AAPS doing "exit interviews" with families who send their kids to private or charter schools instead of their neighborhood school? Especially if the student attended for a while and then left? Are they documenting reasons for change among those "30 or so" students that Liz Margolis claims usually return to AAPS from charter schools during the school year? If some parents in either group would agree to be interviewed for publication, this might shed some light on how AAPS could improve their situation, or at least improve their estimates of enrollment.
AMOC
Tue, Oct 18, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.
Somargie - I wasn't championing charter schools, I was wondering aloud why there are so many charter and private schools in this area, and why so many Ann Arbor parents chose them for their children AAPS enrolls a comparatively low share of their "market", the school-aged residents of the district, when compared with other Michigan districts. I want them to figure out why this is so, and perhaps change some of what they are doing in response. Or at least get better at estimating their enrollment, so they don't have to disrupt students and classrooms 4 or 5 weeks into the school year because of budget shortfalls. Our opinions of the recently-retired Thurston principal will have to differ. I moved my kids out of Thurston some years ago using an in-district transfer after 3 years of increasing difficulty with the then-new principal. When I encountered some Thurston parents again at the middle school, they expressed a very different opinion than you do.
Somargie
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 4 a.m.
The problem with gossip is that it's usually wrong and very popular among people who don't bother to find out things for themselves. It's also great to refer to when trying to deflect personal nasty opinions. There was no bullying/school climate issues at Thurston or inadequate principal there. The principal who retired at the end was very much respected, appreciated & liked. The enrollment drop at Thurston was due to AAPS's premature shutdown of enrollment and sending parents to other schools. Using this as a reason to champion charter schools is just silly, inappropriate and show blind ignorance to anything but gossip.
Beth
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 11:23 a.m.
I know where a lot of those Scarlett students went - they went to St. Francis, South Arbor, Slauson, Forsythe - anywhere they could afford or get into, to escape the possible balanced calendar that may eventually be implemented there. Of all my friends and neighbors with 6th graders who should have gone to Scarlett, only one did, and they're on a wait list for Tappan. Other friends just left our elementary school because places opened up at South Arbor, and they were afraid they wouldn't get in if they waited until middle school.
Basic Bob
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 10:08 a.m.
We're happy our kids finished at Scarlett. The last one is now at Huron. Although we could swing the oddball schedule, we were concerned about our kids being the subjects of an experiment by inexperienced academics. I can't say enough good things about Scarlett, it's really too bad for the rest of the school district that the administration has redlined them so effectively.
dotdash
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Interesting. Thanks for posting this.
A Voice of Reason
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 4:44 a.m.
Learn to cut the budget to match enrollment. You are all so focused on increased revenue by attracting kids from outside the district which we are supplementing with our property taxes. So, they are getting an AAPS $14-$15K education for $9800 and taking space and teacher's time from my kids. Sounds like a bad deal for the Ann Arbor students. Only benefits the teachers and administrators, not the kids---again. Thank goodness for Charter Schools. AAPS better wake up and understand that these great charter school options are not going away and you had better make the product better for all students and make the teachers accountable. When those MEAP scores come out this year, only 35% (based on last year) -vs. 65% are going to be passing the MEAP. I think the parents will finally be outraged about the education you are providing.
Somargie
Sun, Oct 16, 2011 : 3:48 a.m.
When parents want a private education for their child paid by public funds is what charter schools really are... That so-call private education steals money from public schools and create schools that are usually low-performing, teacher/staff abusive, usually prey on low-ses families, immigrants who don't want their children to mingle with others because of religious reasons and in recent news....manipulates these same families who send their children to AAPS to enroll them at their low-standard school close to "Count Day" to steal even more money for their school. It's all about the money, creating jobs for their family members who wouldn't be hired by anyone and keeping students & families ignorant to the fact that they don't have a clue about what they're doing. Unfortunately, they have big supporters in Lansing & Grand Rapids who also don't care how pubilc funds & educational opportunities are being stolen by less than honorable groups because they only want to destroy public education to keep themselves in power.
DonBee
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
SKF - If you compare Charters to all public schools and average the scores by school, you are correct. If you compare Charters to the school districts they are in the charters do better... e.g. compare a Detroit based charter to the Detroit school system. If you compare Charters to all schools and do a weighing by the number of students in each school to get an average for all public school children (not districts) vs an average for charter school students - I think you would be surprised at the answer. The fact is that small rural districts do very well and very large urban districts do poorly on MEAPs. Since there are more small districts than large, they bring the district averages up. Because there are more students in the large urban districts they bring the per student averages down. The public school supporters use a district average, the charter school supporters a per student average. The right answer is to look at the scores of charters based on the district they are in (e.g. Detroit, Ypsi, etc).
SFK
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.
Charter schools' MEAP scores are actually lower than Public Schools. Thank goodness for Public Schools!
A Voice of Reason
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:18 p.m.
I actually agree with you Basic Bob and have mixed thoughts about bringing in new students for the reasons you stated. My concern is it a temporary fix for the real problem. We have also spent quite a bit of money to sell AAPS--I believe the advertising/pr budget is around $500K. So, I am not sure these new students are a true profit for us. We would not be loosing students if we had a quality product, especially among those who have the interest, means, and drive to send their children to a charter school. I believe AAPS's best asset is it's student population who are smart, driven, college bound and kids who will learn in any situation and regardless of the teacher/buildings, etc. Unless we (AAPS) start truly educating all children, we are only going to end up with only the challenging students to educate. In summary, we want our schools to be capacity, but it is going to be increasingly more difficult if the quality of the education we provide is not world class.
Basic Bob
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 9:59 a.m.
$9800 is a good deal when you consider the marginal cost per student. One student does not increase the building maintenance, utilities, or administration. Even 100 students in unfilled classrooms across the district has very little affect on the actual cost. PIck a stack of books out of the depository, shove a desk in the classroom, and cram another student onto the bus. How much does that cost the district?
Basic Bob
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:34 a.m.
School attendance rises by 80 since the last school year. The Ministry of Truth announces a decrease of 50. Ignorance is strength.
Somargie
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:48 a.m.
There could have been more students at Thurston if the district did not close enrollment at that school prematurally. The loss of students is their own fault.
gretta1
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
At least one family that wanted to enroll a child at Thurston was turned away and was told to go to Logan where the child is currently enrolled. Why did this happen?
a2doglover
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:37 a.m.
Clearly we need to close a high school. Community is the obvious choice. No more tax payer supported private school for the lucky lottery winners. Their parents need to pay up or go to one of the big three.
local
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 11:06 a.m.
I agree totally, but his won't happen till, well you know the rest of the phrase. Also, the sale of the property to go into the general fund and be used to save busing and other programs that will need to be cut in the future. (or to have PEG consultants and pay super a big raise!!)
Ricardo Queso
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.
How about digging into the reasons for Carpenter pupils attending charter schools for one day to avoid the head count. What specific schools do they attend?
Basic Bob
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 9:49 a.m.
@jns131, The school district boundary follows the township line. Students on the east side of Munger or Golfside are in the Ypsilanti district. Students on the west side of these streets go to AAPS. Many people living in Pittsfield township have Ypsilanti addresses and phone numbers because that is where the post office and phone company put their boundaries. It has nothing to do with schools or local government.
jns131
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Carpenter is on the border of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. The Ypsi township does have an Ann Arbor school district line. I believe it goes right up to Hewitt. That is the cutoff. So, yes, I can see Carpenter increasing its pupil base. Fortis Academy is the only charter I know of in that area. It is off Golfside.
ViSHa
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
I wonder also--I doubt it is some evil ploy. Maybe parents think driving every day is no big deal but then decide it is not doable? It seemed like a strange statement for Margolis to throw out.
DonBee
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 1:27 a.m.
They have to be gone for a full month to not count.
Blerg
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
How many teachers are at Pioneer, Huron, and Skyline?
Blerg
Fri, Oct 14, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.
I was more curious about FTE at each school; so many teachers are split that a simple directory would give an inaccurate number.
jns131
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
If you go to the hi school web sites and to AAPS web site, you will see an administrative and teacher directory on line. Let me know how many after your final count.
lt1234
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
Approx 180M budget, tax free income. >85% personnel expenditures, including 25% benefits & retirement. 4% transportation, 7.2M. 2011 budget calls for 1.5M transportation and 5M salary/benefit reduction out of 16M total. For transportation, 1.5/7.2=21%. For salary/benefit, 5/(180*.85)=3%. 21/3=7 or 700%. Major capital projects and tech updates requires additional revenue sources, 183M in bonds financed by tax. I wish ...
DonBee
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
It1234 - The total budget is more in the range of $225 million
10dz
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.
Face it. Skyline was a mistake. It has hurt the district in many ways. Huron and Pioneer could manage 2400 kids and keep the rich curriculum and programs we've enjoyed in Ann Arbor for years. Overall crowding is not as bad as classroom crowding which is what we have now. Rossi Ray Taylor, the superintendent who pushed back when the board insisted on building a new school was right all along. They ran her out of town. She warned them at that time that the district would not be able to operate a third high school and keep class size in check, while maintaining the rich curriculum and keeping strong programs in place. But they wanted their names on a plaque.
DonBee
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
G While the schools were under pressure, it was already clear where the bubble was. It would pass BEFORE Skyline could open. The public meetings chose a small academic focused high school that would be a magnet school and could potentially consolidate Community. The BOE decided they wanted a comprehensive high school. The administration promised only 19 positions would be needed to run Skyline, that ALL other positions would transfer from other buildings. While AAPS will not release the number of new positions that were not filled by transfers, the number is FAR higher than 19.
jns131
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
I heard that too. I also heard it relieved over crowding at Pioneer and Huron. Right now the population density at these hi schools are less then what they were a year ago. Even though I was told enrollment was up at Pioneer. Go figure. Skyline was the right idea at that time. In this economy? Who knows. Number crunch it and give me the figures. Otherwise, three hi schools works and helps keep these schools from large classroom size and overcrowding.
G
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
From what I've heard, at the time they decided to build a new high school, Huron and Pioneer were under such population pressure that they were converting closets and hallways into classrooms.
belboz
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.
How much would be saved by closing a High School? Does Ann Arbor need Pioneer, Community, Sky Line, and Huron, not to mention the other smaller special format High Schools. I more concerned about class size than school size. So, if class sizes at Pioneer can be reduced, with a larger school size, why not close one of the High Schools. Not recognizing the mistake of adding another High School is only added waste. Community High Schools has twice the support personnel to pupil ration than Pioneer. It is inefficient. Plus, the property has most likely the Highest per square foot value. It seems time to quit looking at taxpayers for more money, which is coming soon in the form of a millage.
javajolt1
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.
Hmmmm.... Let's see.... We just built a new high school about five minutes ago and the projections that led to it's construction turn out to have been incorrect.