Dearest reader,
Lady Budgetdown found herself wandering into Sanilac County this evening, where a rather interesting enrollment question landed upon the ledger.
So naturally, the spectacles went on.
Let us begin with Croswell-Lexington Community Schools.
During Superintendent Colette Moody's tenure, the district's pupil count has declined substantially.
According to Michigan Department of Education Bulletin 1014:
2021–22: 1,940.20 pupils
2024–25: 1,706.03 pupils
That is 234.17 fewer pupils, a decline of approximately 12.1%.
But Lady Budgetdown does not particularly care for selecting one neighboring district, pointing at it dramatically, and declaring the mystery solved.
That is not how we tend the ledger.
So instead, I pulled every traditional public school district in Sanilac County.
And the picture gets considerably more interesting.
From 2021–22 to 2024–25:
Carsonville-Port Sanilac: +4.1%
Peck: +2.3%
Brown City: −1.0%
Marlette: −4.0%
Sandusky: −6.4%
Croswell-Lexington: −12.1%
Deckerville: −13.0%
Croswell-Lexington had the largest numerical decline in the county, approximately 234 pupils, and the second-largest percentage decline among the seven districts.
Now, dear reader, let us turn to the other side of the ledger. 🪶
Because here is where things get interesting.
Croswell-Lexington has fewer pupils today, but that does not mean the district is receiving less General Fund revenue overall.
According to Bulletin 1014, the district's All Sources General Fund revenue per pupil increased:
2021–22: $12,385 per pupil
2024–25: $14,664 per pupil
That is an increase of $2,279 per pupil, approximately 18.4%.
Put the pupil counts and the per-pupil revenue together, and the ledger tells an interesting story.
In 2021–22, those figures represent approximately $24.03 million.
In 2024–25, despite having 234 fewer pupils, they represent approximately $25.02 million.
In other words:
Fewer pupils.
More revenue per pupil.
And approximately $1 million more in General Fund revenue represented by those figures.
But Lady Budgetdown had one more question for the abacus. 🧮
What would 2024–25 have looked like if Croswell-Lexington had simply maintained its 2021–22 pupil count?
This is a hypothetical calculation, not revenue the district "lost."
Had the district maintained 1,940.20 pupils and received the same $14,664 per pupil reported for 2024–25, the calculation comes to approximately:
$28.45 million.
That is approximately $3.43 million more than the amount represented by the district's actual 2024–25 pupil count.
And so we arrive back at the question written in the margin of Lady Budgetdown's ledger:
🔎 Croswell-Lexington's enrollment has declined substantially during Superintendent Moody's tenure.
What's driving it?
For tonight, Lady Budgetdown is leaving that question right there.
The numbers have spoken.
Now perhaps the breadcrumbs can tell us why. 🪶
With receipts and respect,
Lady Budgetdown 👑
Source: Michigan Department of Education — Bulletin 1014
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