Listening to Our Community

HPS team,

Each year, we conduct a fall and spring student enrollment count. The fall student count was 7,131 students. As projected, this was a decrease of 163 students from the 2015-16 school year. Since 2008, we have experienced a decrease of approximately 1,350 students (from ≅8,500 to 7,131 respectively). As you know, our revenue relies almost entirely on a per pupil foundation from the State; which is currently $7,511.00 (per pupil).

The loss of students on both a state and local level is the result of a number of factors. The two biggest factors are economic conditions (the recession of 2008) and lower birthrates. To highlight the impact of these two factors, consider are graduating (exiting) class of 2016 of approximately 610 students compared to our kindergarten (entering) class of 2029 of approximately 490 students.

In addition, many districts have experienced a loss of students due to the increase in school choice in the state of Michigan. We are no exception. We currently have a number of students (who reside within our district boundaries) choosing to attend school some place besides HPS; this could be public (traditional or charter), private, or home school. If we are going to become the first, best, and only option for families in this area then we must determine the reasons why families make a different choice and respond accordingly. To this end, I have engaged the services of EPIC-MRA, an established survey research firm, to conduct a survey of our current families as well as families who reside within our district but have decided to enroll their children in another district. If there are concrete reasons that surface then we must be willing to act on these immediately.

The online survey will be sent to our families this afternoon and it will remain open until February 5. I look forward to sharing the results with you so we can be better informed as we work to provide the very best education to all of our students.