Bristol County schools face enrollment decline, seek to enhance student offerings
DIGHTON, Mass. (WJAR) — Bristol County public schools are still feeling the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact is showing up in the numbers.
State data shows enrollment across Bristol County school districts continue to decline year after year. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, local public schools in the county lost more than 750 students, adding to a trend that has left some districts finding ways to improve.
"They can come to us to get the full academic experience, the CTE programs, and we have tremendous theater, band and athletic offerings," said Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey.
In some communities, schools are seeing the earlier grades like preschool and kindergarten start to grow.
That moment doesn't continue through the high schools.
Runey is certain students will start to fill up the halls again.
“The community and the families are going to increase their trust in public education," he said. "I'm optimistic we’ll see a come back."
With fewer students walking through their doors, school officials are now working to make public schools a more attractive and beneficial option for families.
District leaders say they're trying to expand what they can offer students - from career and technical pathways, to extracurricular opportunities.
Some parents say families are making school decisions based on what's available for their child's specific needs.
Families looking for specialized courses, targeted support services, or more individualized learning plans may go for private schools or even home-school.
Students also say opportunities matter, especially once they reach high school and start thinking about what is coming next.
Some like Brady Palazzi are grateful to have switched schools even if it wasn't his first option. More than halfway through his high school career Palazzi's parents urged him to try a private school. He didn't like the switch, until he found the ability to bloom in a different way.
"I feel like in todays world, there's a lot more opportunity in a lot of things that can offer more experience for students than maybe a public school can," said Palazzi.
Students are looking for more options and programs that offer hands-on experiences, stronger academic tracks, and wider extracurricular options.
Beyond district-level changes, school leaders say the challenge is also financial.
Administrators across Bristol County say they need more help from the state to keep with enrollment drops and inflation increasing.
School leaders say their goal is simple: Keep public schools strong and accessible and bring more students back to local classrooms.
