Jefferson Parish Schools Close Three Aftercare Programs Amid 900-Student Drop
An 18% decline in preregistrations followed a $10 weekly fee increase, forcing the district to shut down services at three schools with high poverty rates.
By Karim Ramirez ·
Nearly 900 fewer students preregistered for Jefferson Parish aftercare programs this academic year, an 18% drop from the previous year. The decline in participation forced the school district to completely close its afterschool supervision services at Estelle Elementary School, Terrytown Elementary, and Harry S. Truman Middle School. District data indicate that actual attendance also fell by 7% across the remaining programs.
The reduction in enrollment occurred one year after the Jefferson Parish school board raised the weekly fee from $35 to $45 per child. The increase was designed to cover higher wages for aftercare staff, a measure proposed to address a severe worker shortage. Board members who opposed the hike, including District 5 representative Clay Moise, argued that the additional cost made the program unaffordable for many households. Moise noted that the closures leave children without supervision, asking if they are becoming latchkey kids who walk home alone.
District spokesperson Kaela Lewis stated that Estelle’s program was financially unsustainable due to years of declining enrollment, while Terrytown experienced inconsistent participation. Truman Middle School, which had not offered the service in the prior year, attempted to relaunch it but also faced low demand. Lewis described the closures as a necessary response to shifting family needs and budget realities.
The fee increase was originally championed by District 6 representative Michael Pedalino. He argued that higher wages were essential to attract staff and compete with private schools. Pedalino noted that the district lost more than 2,000 students between 2024 and 2025, a trend that may have independently contributed to lower aftercare demand. He maintained that inaction would have led to more program failures, stating that not doing anything was not an option.
The financial burden fell heaviest on schools with large populations of economically disadvantaged students. The three schools that closed their programs had shares of economically disadvantaged students ranging from 86% to 90%, well above the district’s 77% average. Approximately 65% of the 37 schools offering aftercare last year saw declines in both registration and attendance this year. Seven schools, including Airline Park Academy in Metairie, recorded increases, while six others saw mixed results.
District 8 representative Chad Nugent, who voted for the fee increase, characterized the current drop as a temporary adjustment. He suggested that families will return to the programs once they accept the new cost structure, provided the district does not impose further increases. Nugent compared the situation to personal household budgeting, predicting that enrollment numbers will normalize in the coming months.
The district now faces the task of managing reduced staffing levels and reallocating resources across the 34 remaining schools that offer afterschool services. No further fee changes are scheduled for the current budget cycle.
