Depending on the device you are using to view this article, you may have to hold the device horizontally to see the entire article.
There are many rumors about open-enrollment students in the West Carrollton School District. The school district has incorporated some of the comments seen on social media or heard in community conversations into RUMOR versus FACT.
RUMOR | FACT |
Open enrollment has caused all the trouble in the schools.
| Open-enrollment kids make up less than 0.5% of the student population. The percentage of discipline issues among open-enrollment students is even lower than the numbers for the entire student population. |
RUMOR | FACT |
The schools would do better academically if it weren’t for open enrollment. | Our open-enrollment students generally perform academically at the same level as their classmates, or even better. In fact, our 2022 Valedictorian graduated with a 4.937 GPA and was an open-enrollment student. Because of the low percentage of open-enrollment students, those who do score below level would have little to no effect on the district’s overall academic score. |
RUMOR | FACT |
Our sports program has been affected by open enrollment. | The student population has been declining for the past 20 years, reducing the number of students participating in sports programs. At the peak of the district’s enrollment, there were always athletes eager to play for our teams. Today, coaches sometimes struggle to find enough athletes to fill a team. |
RUMOR | FACT |
My taxes shouldn’t have to pay for a student who doesn’t live here. | Local taxes do not cover open-enrollment students. The home school district where the student resides pays the West Carrollton School District for the child's education. Additionally, the income the district has received from open enrollment has helped the district stretch its budget and avoid returning to the community with an Operating Levy request. The last Operating Levy was passed in 2016. |
RUMOR | FACT |
There are too many open enrollment kids. | Not everyone who applies for open enrollment gets to attend. The number of available seats in a grade level determines the number of students accepted. *For example, if there is room for 225 students in second grade, but only 223 West Carrollton School District students are enrolled, two seats would be available. If the district receives open-enrollment applications from 20 students who would like to be in second grade, only two of those students will be considered to fill the two available seats. *The numbers above are for illustrative purposes and do not reflect the current West Carrollton or open enrollment numbers for second grade. |
Some of our open enrollment students are here because their family moved out of the district, but they want their child to continue their education in West Carrollton Schools. Some open enrollment students are here because their family is seeking a better learning environment for their child. All are here because they want to be.