New Lenox School District 122 will hire an outside firm to conduct a comprehensive, 10-year enrollment forecast at an estimated cost of $24,950. The Board of Education approved an agreement with Flo Analytics to provide the detailed demographic study, which will guide strategic planning for the next several years.

According to district administration, student enrollment is the most critical factor in long-range planning, directly influencing staffing, which accounts for over 80% of the district’s budget, as well as decisions on building capacity, program design, and attendance boundaries.

In a memo to the board, Business Manager Robert Groos stated that while the district’s internal forecasting methods have been consistently accurate over the past decade, a professional forecast is recommended every three to four years due to the potential for significant future growth in and around New Lenox. The district’s last professional enrollment study was completed in June 2022.

Flo Analytics will work with village planners, analyze census data, and pull information from various sources to develop the forecast. The study will project enrollment annually from the 2026-27 school year through 2035-36.

The results will provide district-wide forecasts by grade level and school, helping to ensure that future planning is not “derailed by any type of enrollment surprise.” The board approved the contract as part of its consent agenda.