I must have been at the end of fifth grade when the administrators of my school had delivered the news our CMAS scores had improved by an impressive amount. That day, students and teachers alike celebrated the exciting achievement.  

Sadly, the state has been seeing the opposite for some time now. Despite the increased number of administrators being introduced in districts across Colorado, test scores and overall school performance have continued to fall. These extra resources are going toward things that aren’t helping the students of the state. Colorado’s student body is facing performance difficulties, and the focus on administration is not resolving the problems they face. Students will only continue to feel the effects through declining test scores and graduation rates.  

According to the Common Sense Institute, there was a decrease of 1.3% in teaching staff and a decrease of 1.8% in student enrollment over the 2021—22 to 2025–26 period. For students, the Colorado Department of Education has explained this decrease in enrollment could be attributed to declining birthrate and a preference for alternative education options such as charter, online or part-time schooling. The effects of the dwindling student body had been felt throughout the state with Denver Public Schools closing seven schools at the end of the 2024-2025 year.  

Despite declining enrollment and teaching staff, districts have continued to increase administrative staff by 13.1% and an increase in per-pupil funding. There should be no reason for this increase in administration; it is clearly not needed as the levels of pupils continue to drop every year.  

The Common Scene Institute reports a 30% increase in educational funding from 2019 to 2024, with administration being the favorite to receive this funding over instruction. Unfortunately, it seems like this preference is getting schools nowhere in terms of student enrollment. Jeffco Public Schools reports 21 school closures since 2021, including 16 elementary school closures in the summer of 2023. Douglas County Public Schools reported three elementary school closures that went into effect July 2026. Adams 12 will be voting to decide which schools they will close and consolidate. All the listed school districts report low enrollment and budget constraints as reasons for the school closures. 

It is evident that the bloat to administration is not having the desired effect on student outcomes. We saw this with the aforementioned school closures, but it is most evident in student test scores. According to the Colorado Department of Education, from school year 2021—22 to 2025–26, statewide PSAT/SAT performance (measuring grades 9—11) declined in five of six reading, writing and math categories. Without a proper solution to address and rectify student performance, these test scores cannot improve. The constant allocation of resources to administration has not proven useful in the yearslong trend of falling test scores, graduation rates and overall enrollment. There are many things that could help with test scores and effective educational funding.  

Instead of educational dollars going toward unnecessary administration, it should be reallocated toward solutions that directly impact students, such as raising teachers’ salaries, before/after school programs and low-cost/free tutoring programs. A well-supported school district could attract top talent in the teaching area that could positively impact both students and current teaching staff. The creation of more low-cost/free tutoring programs can help students, specifically those with learning disabilities, keep pace with their benchmarks. This can also include the creation of better before/after school programs to help students with turbulent home lives because that can also greatly affect their school performance.  

This is an issue that cannot be ignored; students deserve a quality education and support system that includes qualified teaching staff, adequate school programs, and effective tutoring. 

Miranda Vargas Cervantes is a first-generation college student at the University of Notre Dame. She is currently in her sophomore year studying strategic management. This summer she worked with the Common Sense Institute team located in Oregon to research the state Department of Transportation as well as concerns about hunting and fishing.