Oregon School Enrollment Drops in 2009-10

March 2, 2010

By Gia Vang

EUGENE, Ore. -- According to a new report from the state superintendent, Oregon is seeing fewer students enrolled in schools this year.

The downward trend is no different for 4J, one of the area's largest school districts.

Eugene 4J Communications Director Barbara Bellamy said the report doesn't surprise them. They've seen a drop in enrollment every year since 1997. She said it could be for a number of reasons such as an aging population or home prices being higher than those in outlying districts. Bellamy said it looks like the trend will continue in the next school year.

Currently, there are just over 16,600 enrolled in 4J. Administrators said they expect on having 270 less students in the coming years.

"We have to take that into account in terms of how we balance our systems, and we are growing smaller and have closed and consolidated schools over the last seven years because of that," Bellamy said.

While Eugene has seen a 1.6% drop this year, according to the state's report neighboring Springfield has seen a bigger decrease 2.3%.

Statewide, Oregon reports a 0.5% drop overall. That means the state lost about 2,600 students last year.

Here are the 2009-10 enrollment figures for the state's largest districts and the percentage change from last year:

1. Portland 45,681 (1.5%)

2. Salem-Keizer 39,971 (-0.6%)

3. Beaverton 37,950 (0.8%)

4. Hillsboro 20,714 (0.8%)

5. North Clackamas 17,530 (-1.4%)

6. Eugene 17,497 (-1.6%)

7. Bend-LaPine 15,819 (-0.9%)

8. Tigard-Tualatin 12,686 (-0.9%)

9. Gresham-Barlow 12,219 (0.1%)