Local school enrolment continues to decline

Student enrolment continues to slide and that isn’t good news for local public schools. This year, there are 21,895 students in the Lambton Kent District School Board, with a school capacity utilization rate of 72%. That represents an 11.

Student enrolment continues to slide and that isn’t good news for local public schools.

This year, there are 21,895 students in the Lambton Kent District School Board, with a school capacity utilization rate of 72%.

That represents an 11.2% enrolment decline over the past 10 years. Projections indicate the loss of another 621 students over the next 10 years, the board says.

Declining enrolment has a direct impact on provincial funding, the use of facilities, and number of programs students are offered.

Ontario placed a moratorium on school closures in June 2018 and said it would review the process. It’s not known when the new process will be announced.