Well around this summer, the server averaged around a good 2k players. Now it averages around 1k on a weekend and like 700 hundred on a schoolnight. What are some things we can do as a community to grow it back?
School's back, and so you will see less players. Wait for more holidays and the numbers will climb again.
This happens on all Minecraft servers and any video game alike. During the school/work week, things slow down quite a bit and pick back up as the weekends come around. Also, I know plenty of people who aren't allowed to play during the school year and only during the summer or different breaks from school and/or work.