Press Release

Enrollment Continues Climb Upward

DPS Membership Now 70,956

For the seventh straight year, enrollment continues to climb in DPS, according to a report released today by the district's Department of Planning and Research.

With an increase this school year of 1,180 students, total enrollment for the 2000-2001 school year now stands at 70,956 students (early childhood education through grade 12).

"Parents continue to choose DPS, which is terrific news," said Superintendent Bernadette Seick. "Thankfully, voter approval of the $305 million bond in 1998 is allowing us to build new schools and additional classrooms to keep up with this demand."

While the increase in enrollment is greater than was projected last April, the precise impact on funding isn't yet available, said Chief Financial Officer Velma Rose.

Hispanic enrollment continued to increase at a greater rate than any other ethnic group. An additional 2,049 Hispanic students enrolled in DPS this year, meaning that Hispanic students now make up 53.1 percent of the student body, up from 51.1 percent last school year.

The number of students in all other ethnic groups declined. The number of white students dropped by 663 students to 22.0 percent, from 23.4 percent. African-American student enrollment decreased by 137 students to 20.3 percent, from 20.9 percent. The number of Asian students decreased by 52 to 3.3 percent from 3.4 percent. American Indian enrollment went down 17 to 1.3 percent.

The overall enrollment increase was fairly evenly divided among grade levels, with elementary school enrollment increasing by 380 students, middle school by 377 students and high school by 375. Early childhood education enrollment gained 48 students.

Enrollment has jumped by more than 8,000 since 1993-94, when it was 62,702.