8 takeaways from Lawrence USD 497 school board meeting

Lawrence school district enrollment declines 2 percent, continuing decade-long trend

Preschool enrollment surges nearly 20 percent amid district expansion

Enrollment gap between Lawrence High and Free State narrows

Specialized programs at LMCMS, New York Elementary show enrollment growth

Elementary class sizes stabilize, fewer overcrowded rooms reported

Report shows rise in students experiencing poverty, needing special education

Kansas graduation rate hits record high of 90 percent, achievement gaps narrow

Community partnerships bolster school food pantries amid high demand

Lawrence school district enrollment declines 2 percent, continuing decade-long trend

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Lawrence Public Schools district saw its student enrollment fall by 2 percent for the 2025-2026 academic year, dropping to 10,148 students, according to an annual report presented to the Board of Education on Monday. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift said the decrease continues a trend extending back to 2015, mirroring statewide and national patterns linked to declining birth rates. The district’s current enrollment is now comparable to levels seen between 1992 and 2005. Swift stated that despite the decline, which is spread across most schools and grade levels, there are no recommended school closures or reconfigurations at this time.

Preschool enrollment surges nearly 20 percent amid district expansion

LAWRENCE, Kan. – While overall K-12 enrollment is down, the district’s preschool program is experiencing a significant boom, with enrollment increasing by nearly 20 percent over the last year. Officials attribute the growth to the recent expansion of preschool programs at Woodlawn and Sunflower elementary schools, in addition to existing programs at the Kennedy Early Childhood Center and New York Elementary School’s Montessori program. The report highlighted the expansion as a key strategy to meet a critical child care need in the community and better leverage available classroom space. Since the 2020-2021 school year, the district’s preschool enrollment has increased by 96 percent.

Enrollment gap between Lawrence High and Free State narrows

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The enrollment difference between the district’s two comprehensive high schools has shrunk to just 161 students, continuing a trend of balancing the student populations. The narrowing gap is the result of natural demographic shifts, including a smaller incoming ninth and 10th grade cohort at Free State High School. The data was highlighted in the annual enrollment report, showing progress on an issue that has previously prompted discussions about redrawing high school attendance boundaries.

Specialized programs at LMCMS, New York Elementary show enrollment growth

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Targeted academic programs at two Lawrence schools are successfully bucking the district’s overall trend of declining enrollment. Since launching its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) initiative in 2024, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School has seen a 9 percent increase in enrollment. Similarly, New York Elementary School has experienced a 26 percent enrollment increase since introducing its public Montessori program in 2022. District officials presented the data as evidence that specialized program offerings can be an effective tool for attracting and retaining students.

Elementary class sizes stabilize, fewer overcrowded rooms reported

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The district has made progress in reducing the number of overcrowded elementary classrooms, according to a preview of the annual class size report. A chart presented Monday showed fewer classrooms exceeding target sizes compared to previous years. Kindergarten and first-grade classes average 20 students, while fifth-grade classes average 23. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift noted that in the few remaining "hot spots" with higher numbers, the district has placed additional certified teaching staff to provide small-group instruction in reading and math.

Report shows rise in students experiencing poverty, needing special education

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The annual enrollment report revealed a growing number of students with high needs in the district. The percentage of students qualifying as economically disadvantaged has held steady at 40 percent post-pandemic, a significant increase from 32 percent in the 2018-2019 school year. Additionally, the district has seen a 6 percent increase in students with disabilities since the 2021-2022 school year, a trend that aligns with state and national data. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift said the district aims to use this period of lower overall enrollment to better focus resources on meeting these intensified student needs.

Kansas graduation rate hits record high of 90 percent, achievement gaps narrow

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The statewide high school graduation rate has surpassed 90 percent for the first time in modern history, board member Shannon Kimball reported during Monday’s meeting. Citing data shared by Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson, Kimball noted that graduation rates for students with disabilities, English language learners and students in poverty have all increased at a faster rate than the overall average, effectively narrowing achievement gaps. The state has also seen a 68 percent increase in enrollment in vocational and technical education programs over the last decade, successfully closing a statewide shortage of certified welders.

Community partnerships bolster school food pantries amid high demand

LAWRENCE, Kan. – An outpouring of community support is helping the school district keep its food pantries stocked as demand remains high, Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift reported Monday. Through the “Let’s Lift Lawrence” initiative, led by the Lawrence Schools Foundation, local businesses and organizations have "adopted" school pantries to ensure no family goes without essential support. Last week, business partners quickly responded to restock pantries at four schools with urgent needs, and district staff coordinated to transfer meal kits between schools to meet emerging needs.

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