Steady Growers
Enrollment in school districts has risen and fallen with the population trends of the areas they serve. The population increase brought about by the “baby boom echo” in the 1980s and 1990s was reflected in a nationwide enrollment increase in public schools. Individual districts have seen their numbers ebb and flow depending on the specific conditions facing them.
But some districts have experienced enrollment growth year in and year out. Of the 100 largest districts, 14 have reported enrollment growth every year since 1986-87 (when the NCES historical database of district enrollment data begins).
The districts and their growth from 1986 to 2008:
-Clark County (Nev.) district grew 228.7 percent, from 95,145 to 312,761
-Gwinnett County (Ga.) district, 208.8 percent, from 50,906 to 157,219
-Wake County (N.C.) district, 137.9 percent, from 58,202 to 138,443
-Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) district, 84.1 percent, from 73,360 to 135,084
-Cypress-Fairbanks (Texas) district, 204.1 percent, from 33,104 to 100,685
-Polk County (Fla.) district, 61.2 percent, from 59,352 to 94,657
-Northside (Texas) district in San Antonio, 98.8 percent, from 44,776 to 89,000
-Pasco County (Fla.) district, 127.6 percent, from 29,347 to 66,784
-Douglas County (Colo.) district, 505.8 percent, from 9,693 to 58,723
-Katy (Texas) district, 259.2 percent, from 15,832 to 56,862
-Capistrano (Calif.) district, 155.9 percent, from 20,588 to 52,681
-Cherry Creek (Colo.) district, 93.5 percent, from 26,459 to 51,1199
-Lewisville (Texas) district, 198.7 percent, from 16,809 to 50,216
-Howard County (Md.) district, 94.7 percent, from 25,629 to 49,905