Enrollment Declining and Consolidation
A proposal was made, by prominent local citizen, David Wassel, to consolidate many Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars and improve student services. The plan calls for a new district that combines: West Mifflin Area School District, Duquesne City School District and Steel Valley School District. The new district would serve the communities of: Duquesne City, Homestead, Munhall, West Homestead, West Mifflin, Whitaker. The high school in Duquesne School District was closed in 2007 due to low achievement, district financial distress, and low enrollment. The 9–12 grade students in the Duquesne School District may choose to attend West Mifflin Area High School. Tuition is paid by residents of West Mifflin Area School District and the state reimburses the district about $9,400 per student. West Mifflin Area per pupil spending was $14,500 in 2010.
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).
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.
Read more about this topic: West Mifflin Area School District
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