Denver Public Schools Overwhelmed by Unprecedented Surge of Noncitizen Migrant Students
Denver Public Schools (DPS) is facing a significant challenge as it grapples with an overwhelming influx of noncitizen migrant students flowing into the district.
Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero has shared the impact that these new students, primarily from Venezuela and other countries, are having on schools across the district. Since the summer, DPS has enrolled over 2,200 students who are new to the country, according to Marrero.
This surge in enrollment has resulted in schools that receive migrant students being underfunded by nearly $14 million. As a result, funds that were allocated for other students and their education must now be reallocated to accommodate the needs of the new arrivals.
Moreover, the district is witnessing a distressing trend of class sizes growing beyond sustainable levels.
Board member Xochitl Gaytán, who represents southwest Denver, raised concerns about declining enrollment in her district. She suggested that the new migrant students could potentially help fill schools in her district that were previously at risk of closure or consolidation. However, Gaytán failed to address the source of funding for reopening these schools for undocumented students.
While approximately 75% of DPS schools have received 10 or fewer noncitizen migrant students since July 2023, there are 13 schools that have seen an influx of over 50 students. This disparity raises questions about the distribution of resources and the strain it places on certain schools within the district, according to statements made by Dr. Marrero.
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Board member Scott Esserman has emphasized that the district lacks certainty about the duration of this situation and its potential impact in the coming months.
Critics argue that DPS, which has already experienced failing test scores both prior to and following the pandemic, appears ill-equipped to handle this extraordinary strain on resources. The surge in noncitizen migrant students has further exacerbated the challenges the district faces in providing quality education to all students.