Fall enrollment figures for the Davis School District have been tallied, but school officials aren't surprised by yet another increase.
So far this year, 1,438 new students have enrolled in district schools, bringing the total to 56,629, a 2.6 percent increase over last year.The biggest jump came in the high schools, which reported 11,149, 1,100 more students than last year, or a 10.9 percent increase.
Layton's new Northridge High School will ease the swell but will likely reach capacity during its second year, administrators predict.
District elementary schools, several already on year-round schedules to ease overcrowding, swelled by 336 students, a 1 percent increase
The number of enrolled junior high students increased by 611 students to a total of 13,090, about a 5 percent increase.
"Our predictions were on target for junior and senior high schools, but there are more students than we thought there would be at our elementary schools," said Stephen Ronnenkamp, assistant district superintendent.
The largest portion of district students, 31,707, attend elementary school.
Since 1983, enrollment figures have steadily increased, with 13,673 more students than eight years ago.
There's no end in sight, officials predict. More than 110 new homes were started in Davis County last month, a Davis County Planning Commission spokeswoman said.
"We visited a subdivision in North Salt Lake, and they expect 60 new homes a year over the next 10 years," Superintendent Rich Kendell said. "That's at least one new elementary school just for that one subdivision."
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School Enrollement
Davis County
1983 1987 1991
High Schools 7,989 9,299 11,149
Junior High 9,718 10,350 13,090
Elementary 24,631 30,209 31,707
Total 42,956 50,590 56,629