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Despite Baxter County’s 2% population growth, Mountain Home School District is experiencing a puzzling decline in student enrollment, with current numbers at 3,752 students.
The decrease isn’t explained by typical factors like homeschooling. District Superintendent Allyson Dewey reported that home-school numbers have actually dropped from 362 to 325 students.
“So they’re not going home-school,” Dewey told the school board Monday night. After checking with neighboring districts, she found most are also seeing declines, with Flippin down by nearly 90 students over two years.
Seeking answers, Dewey consulted Chamber of Commerce Director Dani Pugsley about the area’s demographics. Despite population growth, the chamber isn’t fielding inquiries about schools from young families.
“It’s not the retirees that are coming,” Dewey explained. “It’s people around my age… I’ll be an empty nester in 18 months. With the current housing situation, that’s who can afford to be here right now.”
There may be hope on the horizon. Dewey reported about 35 new mid-level executive positions coming to the area through Baxter Healthcare’s facility split with Vantive, which is taking over the majority of the Lab’s grounds next year.
The district is working with Communications Director Jennifer Crawford to develop strategies for better promoting the school system to potential new families.
“We need to make sure folks know we’re here and this district is worth moving to Mountain Home for,” Dewey said.
