Enrollment & Budget Planning
Why Enrollment Matters
Colorado funds school districts largely based on student enrollment.
When enrollment declines, operating revenue declines as well. However, many operating costs - such as maintaining school buildings, transporting students, and providing educational programs - cannot always be reduced at the same pace.
As a result, enrollment trends play an important role in the District's annual budget planning.
D51 Enrollment Highlights
- Since 2019, District 51's enrollment has declined by 2,766 students - a 12.5% decrease.
- The District's current five-year enrollment forecast projects an additional decline of 1,174 students - a 6.1% decrease.
- As smaller student cohorts progress through the school system, overall enrollment is expected to continue declining over the next several years.
💡 Did You Know?
Under Colorado's School Finance Act, most operating funding is based largely on the number of students a district serves. Since 2019, declining enrollment has required District 51 to make difficult decisions, including closing schools, so resources can be focused on maintaining strong staffing, comprehensive programming, and high-quality educational opportunities for students.
How the Budget Is Developed
Developing the District's budget is a year-round process that balances projected revenues, educational priorities, and responsible stewardship of public resources. Throughout the process, District leadership, the Board of Education, and the community have opportunities to review and provide input before the annual budget is adopted.
Annual Budget Timeline
April – May
Departments review priorities and submit budget requests. Revenue projections, enrollment forecasts, and expenditure estimates are refined to develop the proposed budget.
May
The proposed budget is presented to the Board of Education for review and discussion.
Late May – June
Public notice is published, and budget hearings provide opportunities for community review and public comment.
June
The Board of Education adopts the annual budget before the start of the new fiscal year.
January
The Board re-adopts the budget to incorporate updated financial information, official October student count, and year-to-date results.
Throughout the Year
District staff monitor revenues and expenditures, provide regular financial updates to the Board of Education and the community Fiscal Oversight Committee, and recommend budget adjustments as needed.
💡 Did You Know?
The District's budget is developed through a transparent public process that includes Board review, public hearings, and ongoing financial monitoring throughout the year.
Learn More
Explore the District's interactive budget, financial narratives, and adopted budget documents.
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
Review the District's independently audited financial statements and related disclosures.
Access budgets, audits, salary schedules, contracts, and other financial information published in accordance with Colorado's Public School Financial Transparency Act.
Colorado School Finance Project Videos
Watch short educational videos developed by the Colorado School Finance Project (CSFP) that explain Colorado's school finance system, including school funding, budgeting, and the School Finance Act.