Two Springfield elementary schools may change significantly in the not-so-distant future.
A demographics study introduced to Springfield Board of Education members Nov. 28 shined a light on how effectively school buildings are used across the Springfield Public Schools system. The study authors made a case for significant changes to Robberson and Pershing elementary schools.
Performed by Davis Demographics, the study analyzed the Springfield's public school enrollment, aligned addresses using GIS data to make density maps, and made projections about what those school populations would look like over the next decade.
Over the next few months, school board members will weigh options for two elementary schools, based on the study’s findings:
- Whether to expand the sending zone for Robberson Elementary or close the school.
- Whether to convert Pershing into a middle school for grades 6, 7 and 8, sending its K-5 students to other schools.
Deputy Superintendent Travis Shaw said the study is the first deep dive into Springfield Public Schools' demographics since about 2008. The attention of the Community Task Force on Facilities, a community group studying building needs for the 2023 election, prioritized the need for an updated look.
“As they began their work on the 2023 bond issue, they really needed some additional information around what trends we were seeing, what the future of the district was looking like and what do we do potentially,” Shaw said. “We knew that we needed to try to get some answers … specific to Robberson, as well as Pershing.”
Key predictions about the next 10 years:
- Overall K-12 student enrollment for SPS is projected to decline from 24,132 students to 23,853 by 2034.
- Despite the possible decline, a large population of elementary students are expected to increase middle school enrollment significantly.
- Middle schools are currently seeing their lowest enrollments in four years, and those classes are projected to drop the number of public high school students in Springfield to about 7,000 by the ‘27-’28 school year.
- Of the 1,835 active or planned residential construction projects across the city, most of them will be built in the Gray (southwestern Springfield) and Hickory Hills (eastern Springfield) zones.
Robberson one of three underused schools
According to the report, Robberson is one of three elementary schools with a student population of less than 60% of its building’s capacity, with a projected decline in student population over the next 10 years.
Robberson's current population includes 168 enrolled students for a usage of 49%, when measured against its capacity of 343 students. The study indicates the number of students living within that school’s zone will drop to 113 over the next five years.
The study presents two options for closing Robberson and two options for renovating the school with an expanded geographic boundary.
- If closed, its students could be divided either between Bowerman and Fremont schools, or completely redirected to Boyd.
- If renovated and expanded, its boundary could be adjusted to either take 105 students from Fremont or a split of 34 Truman, 34 Watkins and 32 Fremont students.
While Boyd and Weaver have been renovated over recent years, Robberson has not. Located at 1100 E. Kearney St., improvements to the school were discussed by the task force in connection with the April election.
Shaw said the task force never discussed closing the building, but scored its overall condition very low. A plan to renovate Robberson was left off of the April bond election plan, which focused on Pipkin, Reed and Pershing middle schools, as well as a package of other upgrades, including storm shelters at six elementary schools.
“We asked, ‘Does it make sense to build a $30 million school without the necessary data to determine if we do that?'” Shaw said. “That’s what drove us to say that we need more information about what the future of Robberson looks like from an enrollment standpoint.”
Pershing conversion would expand middle school
Part of Proposition S, a $220 million bond issue, calls for $50 million worth of renovation and reconstruction of Pershing. Located at 2120 S. Ventura Ave., the school handles students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The study recommends converting Pershing into a middle school for grades 6-8, with three options for redirecting its elementary students:
- Dividing students between Wilder and Field elementaries.
- Sending all of the students to Pittman Elementary.
- Sending all Pershing students to Wilder, then adjusting Sequiota northward to take parts of Wilder.
This decision will be one of the more pressing matters for the school board to take on, in light of its appearance in the list of bond projects, Shaw said. The beginning phase requires completion of Reed Academy’s $59 million renovation, currently underway. Reed students are attending classes in the former Jarrett Middle School building located at 840 S. Jefferson Ave.
“The challenge with Pershing is that more than likely it will result in having to relocate students and staff, because of the extent of that reconstruction will be,” Shaw said. “In order to do that, we have to have a place for them. Essentially, that project ultimately waits on Reed being finished.”
A longer conversation about building usage, boundaries
The study helps the Springfield Public Schools staff and administrators analyze how to use its buildings more efficiently. The district’s schools are capable of holding 29,100 students. The school district's current enrollment of 24,132 is about 83% of capacity.
Using a target of 80% student capacity, the study reveals how schools such as Weller, Jeffries, Bissett and Pittman have plenty of unused space, while Delaware, Gray, Sequiota and Sunshine are almost at capacity.
In Springfield's high schools, Kickapoo is over capacity and Hillcrest is near it, while Parkview and Glendale are near the target of 80% and Central has plenty of space.
The study includes population predictions over the next decade. Shaw said that could lead to conversations about adjusting sending zones. However, Shaw said the study won’t influence construction decisions for future bond projects.
“The community has said there needs to be a sense of urgency, focusing on the highest-need schools,” Shaw said. “I don’t anticipate that being any different … the condition of the building is still the priority.”
In addition to the findings above, Lorne Woods, senior project manager with Davis Demographics, noted that the district’s enrollment in pre-kindergarten programming is strong.
“One of the things you have going for you is you’ve had an increase in your pre-K population,” Woods said. “That helps bolster your younger grades.”
During Tuesday’s discussion, board members asked cursory questions about how some results were determined. They also asked questions about how the study projected eventual declines in populations for high-demand high schools, and wondered whether interest in those schools was taken into account.
The board is now beginning a deeper study into the study’s 190 pages of data. Superintendent Grenita Lathan said the board would have more conversation during a December meeting, and use that feedback to develop recommendations for the future.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
