Enrollment in ten Iron Range public school districts has dropped by more than 700 students compared to pre-COVID.
The ânon-returnâ of students from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2020-2021 school year, is causing major concern and significant financial issues within the districts.
A total of 721 students who attended the 10 districts in 2019-2020, didn t return for the current school year, according to Minnesota Department of Education statistics as researched by the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation in Eveleth.
âIt s been a range of factors,â Noel Schmidt, Rock Ridge Public Schools superintendent said. âSome kids left school because of COVID, some have chosen to homeschool their kids, some have chosen other online options and some have just disappeared. I know it sounds strange, but we don t know where they went.â