DPS’ enrollment fell by nearly 1,800 students. The superintendent says school closures may be coming.

Denver Public Schools counted 1,780 fewer students this fall than a year ago, a larger drop than the district had planned for. At a Thursday board meeting, Superintendent Alex Marrero indicated he expects to use an exception in the board's four-year pause on closing schools. That exception covers a major change in enrollment, funding or an emergency. He did not say when he might propose closures. Board policy sets a November deadline in the preceding school year for such recommendations, and a district spokesperson says the board cannot vote on a closure this year. The superintendent could still make operational changes.

Officials had forecast a decline of 1,400 to 1,500 students, and last year's drop was about 1,200. Enrollment has been shrinking since a 2019 peak. Officials point to lower birth rates, expensive housing and fewer immigrant students. The district enrolled 233 new immigrant students in the first five weeks of the year, versus more than 1,470 in fall 2023, and over 570 immigrant students left in the first month. Elementary and high schools each lost more than 800 students, and the southwest part of the city lost about 820.

Schools are funded per student and must repay the district for projected students who do not show up, though a district official says many used carryover funds. Over the past three years the district has closed or partly closed 13 schools because of low enrollment.