COVID SCHOOL ENROLMENT NUMBERS UNPREDICTABLE

We’re starting to get a picture of school enrolment numbers — and it’s a mixed bag, as each county navigates distance learning and in-person instruction.

Some districts are reporting drops in enrolment, while others have more students than last year. The uncertainty of the school year is leading to some parents to opt for home schooling, private schools or moving away, according to KCRA 3 News.

“We’ve seen more movement between communities and within schools than we’ve seen in any other year,” said Lincoln Snyder, with the diocese of Sacramento schools. “Some of our schools have seen some of the biggest jump in enrolment we’ve ever had one year to the next, and other schools we’ve seen big declines.”

Snyder is the superintendent of 42 Catholic schools across 11 counties. He said enrolment is down 5%—but that’s net. In reality there was an 11% drop in returning students, but a 6% gain in new students.

“I think a lot of it has to do with economics. You know, we’re in the middle of a very big recession. A lot of people have lost jobs,” Snyder said. “As we do interviews with people, usually if they are not coming back to the same school they were at, it has to do with economics. They had to move, maybe even out of state, or they just lost their job and inability to pay tuition.”

However, Snyder explains enrolment varies greatly on the location of the Catholic school and even their enrolment is unpredictable.

For example, Our Lady Grace in West Sacramento is at capacity with a waitlist of 41 students.

“I know a lot of schools where the public system perhaps hasn’t been able to articulate a clear vision or plan, we’re getting a lot of requests for tours right now,” Snyder said.

But in South Sacramento, St. Patrick Academy had one of his greatest drops in enrolment this school year.

“Although we have a lot of tuition aid available to support those families, we’ve seen a big drop there because they are just concerned about their ability to pay,” Snyder explained. “It tells me that COVID, and the recession we’re having because of it, really is affecting especially our families that are perhaps depending on that hourly wage or those non-tech jobs.”

Snyder hopes to have his private schools offering in-person instruction soon.

“With our schools—we’re either back in session or we’re applying for waivers to come back in session,” Snyder said. “We are planning on starting in-person instruction in most of our schools in the area on or about the 14th of September.”