Enrollment Data Available
I have had no time to check this info out but it is available so I'm putting up this link for anyone who wants to see enrollment data for 2011-2012.
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
"District enrollment has been increasing since 2007, with two years of moderate overall growth followed
by significant growth in 2010‐11. Overall enrollment is up by more than 1,000 students this year over
last, driven largely by a steady increase in kindergarten enrollment over the past five years. Kindergarten
enrollment has increased by more than 650 students since 2006, including an increase of about 200
students this year over last. As these students move through the elementary grades, enrollment in
grades 1‐5 also continues to climb.
Growth in kindergarten enrollment is expected to continue. Births five years prior to kindergarten
enrollment fluctuated between 2006 and 2010, ending up with a difference of about fifty more births
feeding into 2010 enrollment than births feeding into 2006 enrollment. During that time period,
however, the Birth‐to‐Kindergarten ratio1 increased steadily, growing from 63% in 2006 to 73% in 2010.
In fact, going back five more years, the Birth‐to‐Kindergarten ratio was only 58.6% in 2001, so the
current ratio is the highest in over a decade.
At the middle school level (grades 6‐8), this year’s enrollment is almost back up to what it was five years
ago, following a significant decline between 2006 and 2007. Enrollment at the high school level has
been declining for a number of years, reflecting the smaller cohorts of students at lower grades moving
through the district. High school enrollment declined by about 900 students from 2006 to 2010,
although there was an increase of about 70 students this year over last year. As the larger elementary
school cohorts move through middle and high school, those numbers will continue to increase.
Just wondering
The problem, as explained by the demographic consultant, is that the district didn't quite believe the growth would be sustained AND also thought it was localized to a few areas.
I think MGJ thought this would be a way to save money and look authoritative.
As the Board and the senior staff turn their attention to budget development in February you will hear this discussed. I wish I could say that you will hear it debated, but discussed is the best we can hope for.
Of course, there are still 2 grades in each HS which were assigned before the new assignment plan, but overall, these numbers show that there's a lot of movement between schools, and at least in the north end, in all directions.