Schools
Salem School Enrollment Continues To Decline
While the ten-year enrollment trend continues, the school system's budget continues to increase each year.
SALEM, MA -- The New England School Development Council expects enrollment in Salem Public Schools to drop by 116 this fall, continuing a decade-old trend in the district. Over the past ten years, the district has lost about 1,000 students and, on average, has served 151 fewer students each year. School officials attribute the declines to changing demographics of the city, which has seen an influx of empty-nesters, retirees and empty-nesters.
Enrollment is expected to continue to fall in coming years, even as the city works to create more affordable housing for families. The drop enrollment means less state money coming to the school district, which saw its budget increase in each of the last seven years, despite the enrollment drops. This year the budget is $72 million, up 8.4% from $71.4 million last year.
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