Declining enrollment took center stage at another School Committee meeting on Dec. 4, as Superintendent John Robidoux presented more data to address concerns about the number of students leaving Marblehead schools.
“So, we’re down over 200 students since June 7 to when school opened in September,” said School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner. She said enrollment had dropped by 25 students in the prior week alone. That’s a drop from 2,754 to 2,511 students since June.
“I am very interested in what’s going on,” Schaeffner said. “What’s happening? Where are students going? Are we doing any kind of analysis? It does speak to a whole bunch of issues … certainly the budget. Are people leaving because they’re not happy with the schools? I don’t know.”
Robidoux emphasized that it is important to examine annual data from the Department of Early and Secondary Education and not “throw out willy, nilly numbers” but “compare apples to apples.”
Robidoux confirmed that MPS enrollment has dropped about 3.88% a year since 2018.
“I’m hugely concerned that we’re down 200 kids,” Robidoux said. “What could we be doing differently?”
Robidoux said he will have more data at the School Committee’s next meeting about why students are leaving MPS (or deciding not to attend at all) and where they are going.
Competency determination and rigor
The committee also discussed and ultimately approved a new competency determination, which is necessary now that passing the MCAS is no longer required for graduation in the state.
Among other criteria, the state recommends that all students secure passing grades in mandatory classes through the 10th grade.
In Marblehead, a passing grade is 60 or higher, according to Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira.
Schaeffner urged the administration and the committee to consider more rigorous standards.
“Do we want to consider a higher bar?” she asked. “I don’t think I’m crazy. Something higher than a 60.”
Schaeffner then made a motion to change Marblehead’s passing grade to a 64. It did not move forward.
“I agree that we should have higher standards,” Robidoux said. “My thought is that the rigor associated with any of those grades is associated with the instruction and the teaching and learning in the classroom. I contend that we provide rigorous instruction to our students. A ‘B’ in Marblehead, in my opinion, could be seen and is likely more rigorous than a ‘B’ with the same number in a different district.”
The committee agreed to task Robidoux and Ferreira with investigating how districts similar to Marblehead define passing grades. The administration will also look at how many MHS students would not be able to graduate if the passing grade were moved to 64.
