PUSD's declining enrollment blame game

This from Pasadena Now (the most consistent coverage of Pasadena news we have):

PUSD Enrollment Continues to Decline

“Pasadena’s housing is unaffordable for many people,” Assistant Superintendent George McKenna said at last night's meeting
By DANIELLE GILLESPIE
Wednesday, September 12 | 4:21 a

The number of students attending Pasadena Unified School District’s schools has declined again this school year, reported Assistant Superintendent George McKenna to the school board during Tuesday’s meeting. The number of students enrolled is a vital statistic for the district because state funding is based on enrollment.

School started on Sept. 6, and as of Tuesday, the district had 19,838 students enrolled for classes. At the start of last school year, there were 20,041 students attending PUSD. The district’s enrollment has steadily declined each year from 2000-01, when 23,559 students were enrolled.

McKenna attributes the loss to the formation of charter schools and families moving away from the area. “Pasadena’s housing is unaffordable for many people,” he said.

The full story is here:

http://www.pasadenalivingmagazine.com/_ArticleManager/publish/PUSDenrollment.shtml

What I think:

If charter schools are siphoning off hundreds of students from PUSD, there are other issues the school district needs to address. It ain't housing costs, it's academics, safety, behavior, maintenance, college acceptance rates, and test scores. What percentage of PUSD area kids go to private school?

PUSD needs to quit searching for excuses and face up to reality. Until the schools are safe, academic and properly maintained, and as long as their principals seem more interested in parking access than test scores, they will keep losing students.

Maybe the new Chief of Staff can help them focus:

http://www.pasadenalivingmagazine.com/_ArticleManager/publish/article_2892.shtml

D.