Seattle Schools Enrollment Predicted to Top 51,000 Next Year
From the Audit & Finance Committee meeting today comes news of the first Open Enrollment Data.
As stated in the headline, SPS enrollment looks to go over 50,000 for the first time in decades, to just over 51,000.
That is based on an increase of 1300 students for next year. Interestingly, it is NOT at kindergarten where projections show a lower number, just under 300 students. The real increase is at 6th grade at about 160 students.
Oddly (and I mean I don't get statistically how this happened), they got all the high school numbers right on target. The highest projected change for high school is at the sophomore level with more than 100 students.
Tracy Libros, head of Enrollment, said she thought the enormous growth line of birth-to-K may be stabilizing.
Director Carr noted the change in 6th grade. Dr. Libros said that Jane Addams is doubling the number of 6th grades classes and adding one 7th grade class. They attracted many Spectrum-eligible students. That surge at JA didn't necessarily help Eckstein but Eckstein will not be any larger next year than it is this year. Dr. Libros classified Hamilton as "heavy."
Rainier Beach HS is up and projected at about 450 students. Ingraham will have a third class of APP/IB students.
It was the briefest of outlines but more information is coming soon.
(P.S. To any real journalists reading this, could you give credit where it's due. This information is available nowhere else but here. Professional courtesy is a great thing.
As stated in the headline, SPS enrollment looks to go over 50,000 for the first time in decades, to just over 51,000.
That is based on an increase of 1300 students for next year. Interestingly, it is NOT at kindergarten where projections show a lower number, just under 300 students. The real increase is at 6th grade at about 160 students.
Oddly (and I mean I don't get statistically how this happened), they got all the high school numbers right on target. The highest projected change for high school is at the sophomore level with more than 100 students.
Tracy Libros, head of Enrollment, said she thought the enormous growth line of birth-to-K may be stabilizing.
Director Carr noted the change in 6th grade. Dr. Libros said that Jane Addams is doubling the number of 6th grades classes and adding one 7th grade class. They attracted many Spectrum-eligible students. That surge at JA didn't necessarily help Eckstein but Eckstein will not be any larger next year than it is this year. Dr. Libros classified Hamilton as "heavy."
Rainier Beach HS is up and projected at about 450 students. Ingraham will have a third class of APP/IB students.
It was the briefest of outlines but more information is coming soon.
(P.S. To any real journalists reading this, could you give credit where it's due. This information is available nowhere else but here. Professional courtesy is a great thing.
Comments
BTW, talk about another cryptic "gap" analysis: seems all our problems are gone, I think...?
-Laura
Carr made an equally cryptic comment about McDonald, citing "numerous emails". Well, what do you expect when everyone in a specific neighborhood expects to get what others have (or not).
No real numbers for Hamilton but I'll try to see if there are any forthcoming.
Thank you. Curious Middle School Parent.
Hmm...
In the past, I had heard several principals push back on half-day K, saying that they didn't have very many parents.
Maybe half-day is concentrated in certain schools but I have to believe, Mirmac1 points out, that some parents cannot afford full-day K. And, those may be the students who might need that extra time in the classroom.
McCleary can't come fast enough.
This was on the Advanced Learning page of the SPS website (I am assuming it would apply to all families, not to just those of advanced learners...feel free to correct me if I am wrong about that.):
UPDATES !
Information on assignments and waitlist status will be available to families beginning at Noon on Monday, April 15th from Enrollment Services. You will be able to access this information on-line or by calling the automated phone line, 206-252-0212.
Individual letters will be mailed the week of April 22nd to anyone who submitted an Open Enrollment application.
-North End Mom
Do FRL families have to pay for K? If not, then perhaps a portion of the "half-day K" numbers are FRL kids who are in kindergarten for the full day, but who get a waiver from paying for the full day?
Has there been an analysis done on the affect of increased half-day kindergarten (due to families who can't afford full day K)on transportation costs? Those who qualify receive mid-day bus service, correct? I wonder if raising the cost of full-day K is worth it, when transportation costs are factored in?
-North End Mom
SPS might get more "buy-in" (and kids getting a more equal start to their education), if a rate was i.e. $100/mo for those closest to the cut-off, then $150/mo for those with a bit higher income, then $200/mo, etc.
For those families just a tad over the limit, even taking a second part-time job to improve their family's income might actually cost them more in losing the K subsidy. It's a Catch-22 again for those caught in the lower-middle!
tk
Agreed, TK.
RU kidding?! Pay for K is one of the "gap solutions"!
Yeah, I know. Counter-intuitive to the whole Birth to K plank on the ed reform platform...