Supporting thriving schools during a period of declining enrollment

Like many districts across the state and country, Adams 12 Five Star Schools is experiencing declining enrollment as people have fewer children and “age in place,” meaning there are less available homes in our district for young families. The district has seen a decline of 6,000 students since 2018 and this trend is expected to continue. 

Because school funding is largely based on the number of students we serve, fewer students means fewer resources and makes it harder to provide a thriving school experience for all students. Consolidation allows the district to use our resources more efficiently while continuing to provide strong academic programs and student support.

The district is using multiple factors, including enrollment, cost savings, building condition, proximity to other schools, academic performance, transportation and community impact. The goal is to balance efficiency with maintaining or improving the student experience. 

Our goal is to maintain reasonable class sizes that support student learning while using space more efficiently. Consolidation is intended to move schools toward more balanced class sizes, typically in the mid-20s. In many cases school consolidation may allow the district to reduce class sizes, because schools will have enough students to add another classroom (“round”).

Students who attend a school that closes will be reassigned to another school, and will also have the opportunity to apply for Choice at any district school. When assigning affected students to their new boundary schools the district will prioritize:

• Keeping students together with their classmates
• Maintaining neighborhood connections
• Efficient bus routes getting students to their new schools
• Giving families time to explore their options, including school choice.

No schools have been determined. This summer options will be refined, with decisions and announcements made in the fall. 

We know consolidations are not only disruptive to the students, staff and families but to the broader school district as a whole. In order to not cause disruption over multiple years, the district is currently considering five to seven schools for consolidations. That number is subject to change.

Staff will be supported through the transition and given time to find positions at other schools in the district. Many will be reassigned based on student needs and enrollment.

The district’s goal is to ensure buildings continue to serve the community when possible. 

This means, we will first consider how we might be able to repurpose buildings for other district programs or needs, and then look at possible community partnerships (like recreation or gathering spaces), and potentially compatible uses such as childcare providers.

Our priority is to maintain high-quality learning environments for all students. Consolidation is intended to improve student experience by increasing access to full-time staff, electives, extracurriculars and support services. Smaller schools often struggle to provide these consistently due to limited staffing and resources.

We understand this concern. Our goal is to create strong, sustainable schools that continue to attract and retain families. By aligning resources and maintaining quality programming, we aim to strengthen confidence in our schools and make sure that students throughout the district have access to a thriving school environment.

The district expects enrollment to continue declining for about the next 10 years before stabilizing. Consolidation is part of a long-term strategy to right-size the system while maintaining flexibility to grow again if enrollment trends change. 

We are committed to transparent, ongoing communication. The district will continue sharing updates through its website, direct communication, and future updates. Key milestones include policy decisions in late spring, recommendations in the fall, and ongoing updates throughout the process.