Lower Rockford population means fewer students in schools

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - Rockford education officials say dropping enrollment numbers are more indicative of population losses than struggling schools.

Enrollment in the northern Illinois school district is 28,718. The Rockford Register-Star reports (http://bit.ly/1PmmDIU ) that's a drop of 611 pupils, or 2.1 percent, since 2010.

The city's population dropped to an estimated 149,123 in 2014, down 2.5 percent since 2010.

Todd Schmidt is the district's chief operations officer. He says kindergarten enrollments are down because there are fewer births.

School board member Tim Rollins says the figures should serve as a warning. He says the community should discuss factors that prevent families from moving to Rockford, including crime, lack of jobs and taxes.

He says if the trend continues the district will have to consider closing more school buildings.

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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com