Examining the noticeable downward trajectory in school district enrollment over the past decade, it becomes evident that the West Bloomfield school district is not exempt from this decline, warranting a closer discussion.
Over the last 13 years, the West Bloomfield school district has seen a substantial reduction in student enrollment, losing 1,876 students, reflecting a 28% decrease compared to the statewide loss of 10%. Particularly noteworthy is the significant decline observed between 2011 and 2016, while the subsequent five years witnessed a more gradual descent.
In the academic year 2022-2023, West Bloomfield’s student count stood at 5,476, indicating an 11% decrease from the figures five years prior. According to Chalkbeat, the statewide decline was 4.2%, highlighting the impact of the pandemic on numerous districts, including West Bloomfield.
West Bloomfield High School notably had a 9% loss of students between 2021 and 2023, contributing significantly to the overall decline.
An anomaly occurred at West Bloomfield Middle School, where there was a remarkable 40% increase in the official student count within a single academic year, from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021. Contrastingly, the remaining schools maintained a consistent decline.
