Mountain View School District (Pennsylvania) - Enrollment and Consolidation

Enrollment and Consolidation

Mountain View School District is experiencing low enrollment in K-12. The Pennsylvania Department of Education projects the district's enrollment will remain below 870 pupils through 2018. Shifting population trends across the U.S. and Pennsylvania are affecting school enrollment and may impact the building needs of school districts in the years to come. Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).

A study done by Standard and Poors in 2007 (at the request of the PA General Assembly) examined the district consolidating with neighboring Blue Ridge School District. It found that residents in both districts would realize substantial savings in a consolidation. Savings of over $1000 per pupil were estimated. As a part of the study, Superintendents were asked about savings, if their district were to merge with another district at the administrative level only, without closing any of their schools. It found 42% of survey respondents thought consolidation could achieve cost reductions in their district. Additionally, 63% of responding superintendents believed that consolidation with another district would help provide additional academic enrichment opportunities for the students. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Fiscal Responsibility Task Force released a report which found that consolidating school district administrations with one neighboring district, would save the Commonwealth $1.2 billion dollars without forcing the consolidation of any schools.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.