WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Enrollment in Wichita Public Schools has dropped for the 2025-26 school year, continuing a downward trend, the district reported Friday.

WPS said 45,075 students are enrolled this year, a 3% decrease from the 2024-25 school year. District leaders expect enrollment to continue declining through 2033, primarily due to a declining birth rate in Sedgwick County and other shifts in the student population.

“Communities change over time, and Wichita is no exception,” Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said in a statement. “WPS will continue to look at right-sizing our district to meet the needs of today’s students while building a sustainable future.”

Earlier this year, the district sought voter approval for a $450 million bond measure to build new schools and consolidate ot

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