SJSD enrollment down overall, kindergarten class at highest since 2023-24

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph School District's enrollment continued a downward trend with the 2026-27 reported September numbers.

The 2026-2027 enrollment data shows that there are 9,312 students in K-12. Enrollment has dropped by nearly 3,000 students or a 23% decrease since 1990 (12,074 K-12 students).

The decline is not unique to just St. Joseph. During the September Board of Education meeting, SJSD superintendent Ashly McGinnis talked about how many school districts across Missouri and the country are losing students.

For years, enrollment has been a concern for district leaders, board members and the community at large. Fewer families are sending their children to the district.

The elementary grades tell much of the story. In 1990, nearly 6,000 students were enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade. By 2000, that figure was down by about 500. The next decade brought a smaller drop, then from 2010 to 2020 there was another decrease of about 600 students. The declined continued with 4,530 K-5 students last year and into this year with 4,425 students.

When K-5 numbers fall, the impact eventually reaches grades 6-8 and, in turn, the high schools. In 1990, 2,856 students were enrolled in sixth through eighth grades. That downward trend continues this year, with 2,108 students.

At the high school level, the picture looked more optimistic for the first 20 years (1990-2010). Enrollment peaked at 3,410 high school students in 2010. This fall, the count is 2,779.

The overarching theme is clear though. Enrollment continues to drop. There does not appear to be one singular reason why. Families have options like home school, virtual education and private schools and birth rates have been down as well in Buchanan County, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

There is a modest bright spot though. This year’s kindergarten class is 761. That is down from 785 kindergarten students in 2023-24, but it is the highest kindergarten enrollment the district has seen since that school year.

Only time will tell whether the school district and the city can reverse course on a challenge the community has faced for more than 35 years.