Avi Chai

The question raised frequently in the press and around day school tables across the country has been how the recent and lingering economic crisis is affecting day school enrollments, with widespread predictions of significant enrollment decline, including in the Modern Orthodox sector.

Just-released research by Dr. Marvin Schick provides 2010-11 enrollment data for all schools outside the yeshiva world and Chassidic sectors:

While the above data provide but a snapshot of the day school enrollment situation, they indicate that day school enrollment, aside from that of the Solomon Schechter schools, has remained fairly stable, despite the continued stresses of the economy.

The data show an improvement from Dr. Schick’s 2009 data. In December of 2009, Dr. Schick collected enrollment data for 2009-10 from 120 schools with enrollment greater than 250 students from the non-Orthodox and Modern and Centrist Orthodox sectors. The data indicated that across the board, total enrollment dropped an average of 3%, a rate lower than many had feared last year given the many media stories about transfers from day schools. This year’s essentially flat enrollment suggests that on the whole day schools have thus far weathered the economic crisis, notwithstanding the strains on both parents and scholarship budgets.

“While there is still a small decreasing trend in enrollment, the data is heartening in that it demonstrates quite clearly that despite the economic difficulties of the past two years, parents see the value proposition in day schools as outweighing the economic burden,” says Arthur Fried, Chairman of The AVI CHAI Foundation.

To discuss the data further with Dr. Schick or to arrange for an interview, please contact him at (212) 334-2285 or at mschick@mindspring.com.