SPRINGFIELD — The city is facing lower enrollments in its public schools, but Springfield is not alone in this situation.

Elise Bernice, manager of strategic data for the district, told the School Committee at its Sept. 7 meeting that declining populations and an increase in enrollment at charter schools have affected the numbers of district.

A count made on the sixth day of the new school year showed the city’s enrollment is at 23,285 students, which is down 368 students from the sixth day of school in 2022-2023. Bernice noted that prior to COVID-19 in October 2019 the enrollment was at 25,007.

This year the district’s students are 67.5% Hispanic; 17.1% Black; 7.8% white and 1.7% Asian American. English learners are at 16.4% and students with disabilities are 25.8%.

General population trends include a decline of birth rates from 2016 to now. Population is dropping in the four western counties of the commonwealth

When looking at enrollment in other communities, Springfield has seen a drop of 9.8%; Boston 17.9% drop and Worcester has had a 0.2% decrease. Statewide there has been a 4.8% decrease.
Other communities in Hampden County have seen a decrease.

Bernice also noted there has been a growing trend in Springfield for students to attend charter schools or other public schools through the School Choice program.

Charter schools have grown because they have been allowed to add grades over the years, School Superintendent Daniel Warwick said. Committee member Christopher Collins noted the costs for every Springfield student who go to a charter school comes out of the School Department budget.

Warwick added that every charter school in the city is a magnet school which means it is open to any child in the system. This status put “a real strain” on the district’s transportation system, he explained.

Patrick Roach, head of the district’s Office of Business and Financial Services, told the committee this summer was very busy with construction projects for the district. The district completed $30.3 million in projects with $76.3 million in projects still in progress. There are $5.1 million in projects pending approval from DESE.

“That’s the biggest summer we’ve ever had,” he said.

Among the projects completed were a full kitchen replacement at Pottenger Elementary and at Liberty Elementary; a new HVAC system at Warner Elementary and Balliet Preschool; new windows at Balliet Elementary and at Talmadge Elementary; full controls upgrade to online building management system at Sci-Tech High School and the opening of the new Swan-Deberry School.

Roach said that pending projects include the conversion of the former Friendly’s restaurant building on Sumner Avenue into a new pre-K facility with three classrooms. There are also auditorium/gum upgrades at Central High School slated as well as the installation of a turf baseball field and practice field. Duggan Field will be in the first phase of its construction with a track, bleachers and a basketball court. All phases, which also included a soccer and baseball/softball field and a walking path will be finished in the spring of 2025.

The committee voted unanimously to name the new library and media center at the new DeBerry-Swan Elementary School after parent liaison Mattie Jenkins, a parent liaison.

School Committee member Barbara Gresham said that Jenkins “is so in love with those students and the staff. She does a lot for the kids at that school.”