ANAHEIM, Calif. — Several public-school districts, including the nation’s second-largest school system, are reporting low enrollment. The Anaheim Elementary School District is experiencing a dip as well
The first day back for the majority of AESD students is Aug. 11, but the school year started well before that out on the streets for principal Stephanie Shumate. She went door to door with her new vice principal, talking up Sunkist Elementary.
“Sometimes the homes in this side will want to elect to go to private schools and so in an effort to increase our enrollment and really make our school a community school we canvass the neighborhoods,” Shumate said.
Usually they leave a flier. Occasionally, they’ll catch parents at home with prospective students.
For several years now, enrollment has been declining across the district. That translates into less funding. Shumate said the rising cost of living pushing people out of the area is at least partially to blame.
“Everything is expensive and housing is housing, but my philosophy as a school principal is I want kids to be happy and safe wherever they are,” Shumate said.
However, Shumate claims Sunkist Elementary is bucking the declining enrollment trend somewhat. They’re opening a new classroom to accommodate the incoming class. It might be where 5-year-old Oliver Trinidad spends his time as a new student.
His mother, Rocio Trinidad, wasn’t sure at first if Sunkist Elementary would be the right school for him.
“I would say we struggled a lot. We struggled a lot,” she said.
Oliver’s older brother already goes to a different elementary they can’t walk to like Sunkist. Extra planning and expense is worth it to Rocio Trinidad, she said, because each boy is getting what they need academically. The language immersion programs influenced her choice, she said.
There’s also a personal component to the decision.
“Separating them was a huge concern and the biggest consideration because they’ve always been together and just they kind of look out for each other, but I think it’s going to also be a chance for him to kind of grow out of his brother’s shadow a little bit,” Rocio Trinidad said.
This is the time and the place for self-discovery, for both kids and adults. Shumate began her career as a student-teacher in this district.
“It’s that type of camaraderie that you meet at such a young age as an educator you’re starting out that it becomes, it’s a contagious joy that you really just want to continue and have in your life,” Shumate said.
As the year takes shape, so will the future of the school.