Has the national economic slowdown impacted R-7 enrollment growth?
Although R-7 growth has slowed recently due to declines in housing sales, the district continues to gain students. Current enrollment is more than 17,400 students, an increase of around 250 students over the previous school year. During the past two years combined, the district has gained close to 400 students. Enrollment projections indicate that the growth rate will increase in the next few years. Q: What efforts have been made by the R-7 School District to find alternative methods to provide facilities for growth needs? A: The R-7 School District has been a leader in seeking innovative and creative methods to finance new schools by using alternative funding methods from the private sector. In recent years, the school district has saved taxpayers close to $34 million through performance contracts, alternative resources, partnerships and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources low-interest energy-saving loans program. Examples of major school projects that resulted in millions of
