Denver Public Schools cites declining enrollment and birth rates in layoff decisions

A tale of two trends – fewer births and enrolled students – helped spur a recent restructuring by Denver Public Schools to cut 38 positions for the 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Alex Marrero announced the changes in a Feb. 28 memo, saying the layoffs would save an estimated $5 million yearly and were needed to “ensure our district’s long-term stability and success.”

“These staffing decisions were not made lightly, and I deeply recognize the personal and professional challenges these changes bring,” Marrero wrote. “To those departing DPS as part of this restructure, thank you for your dedicated service to our students and the Denver community.”

The district serves more than 90,000 students and has more than 10,000 fulltime employees.

Marrero also warned further staffing adjustments may take place as Colorado legislators weigh cuts to public-school funding.

“State lawmakers need to cut more than $1 billion to balance the budget,” wrote Jenny Brundin in an article published by the Denverite. “Eighty percent of school districts would be negatively impacted by Gov. Jared Polis’ proposal to implement a new method of calculating school funding, which would send less money to districts with declining enrollment.” 

Judge tosses DPS lawsuit regarding ICE operations 

The layoffs come as the district had sought to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from entering schools, claiming it would cause “irreparable harm” to students. 

As previously reported by The Lion, DPS and other school districts had resisted the Trump administration’s move to allow ICE officers into educational facilities. 

However, U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico denied the district’s request Friday. 

In his ruling, he concluded the district had failed to prove “its high burden” showing how ICE posed a direct threat to students, according to the Denverite. 

“Much of the injury relied on here by DPS is speculative, based on fears of future action,” he said, “based on mistaken reports or based on actions that took place elsewhere.” 

Denver has spent over $200 million and as much as $340 million in services for approximately 42,000 migrants between December 2022 and May 2024, according to the Colorado-based Common Sense Institute. 

“At $14,100 in instruction support per student, the number of students the Denver metro school districts absorbed from the five countries will cost $98 million,” the report noted. 

“As recorded by the City of Denver’s contracts with non-profit organizations, state government, and federal government, the migrants arriving in the city have been met with an abundance of resources that have further catalyzed the crises being faced by Denver metro school districts and hospitals.”