This breakdown of the enrollment issue is absolutley brilliant. The way it separates supply-side factors (fewer kids being born, immigration slowdown) from demand-side ones (charter schools, exam school drama) really clarifies why this is such a thorny problem to solve. I worked on education policy stuff a while back and it was always frustrating how people wanted one simple explination when demographic shifts and school choice issues were both happening at once, pulling in different directions.
Live births in MA: 92k in 1990, 81k in 2000 and 72k in 2010. Immigrants helped mitigate the decline, especially in Boston and Gateway cities, but that is over. One aspect of the DESE data that jumped out is the rise of Asian enrollment in many Boston suburbs (Hopkinton, Lexington, Belmont and Acton among others). Is this growing Asian suburban community made up of some families that previously would have enrolled in BPS?
Data indicates this likely true. It is worth noting, though, that the 2020 Census showed the Asian population increasing in Boston and MA. So, consistent with theme, more kids and more families moving.
This breakdown of the enrollment issue is absolutley brilliant. The way it separates supply-side factors (fewer kids being born, immigration slowdown) from demand-side ones (charter schools, exam school drama) really clarifies why this is such a thorny problem to solve. I worked on education policy stuff a while back and it was always frustrating how people wanted one simple explination when demographic shifts and school choice issues were both happening at once, pulling in different directions.
Thank you!
Live births in MA: 92k in 1990, 81k in 2000 and 72k in 2010. Immigrants helped mitigate the decline, especially in Boston and Gateway cities, but that is over. One aspect of the DESE data that jumped out is the rise of Asian enrollment in many Boston suburbs (Hopkinton, Lexington, Belmont and Acton among others). Is this growing Asian suburban community made up of some families that previously would have enrolled in BPS?
Data indicates this likely true. It is worth noting, though, that the 2020 Census showed the Asian population increasing in Boston and MA. So, consistent with theme, more kids and more families moving.