Oregon K-12 school enrollment sets record

Deputy Superintendent Rob Saxton announced Tuesday that Oregon’s K-12 public school enrollment has hit an all-time high, the second year of increases after five years of declining enrollment.

According to counts by Oregon school districts, education service districts and state education agencies, there were 567,098 students enrolled in K-12 public schools last fall. That’s an increase of 3,384 students, or 0.6 percent, over 2012-13 enrollment.

“With more students in our schools, I feel an even greater sense of urgency around improving our education system so that each and every one of those 567,098 students has the chance to excel,” Saxton said.

“As I look at these enrollment numbers, I think of all of the promise and potential within each of our students,” he added. “Our task – as educators, parents, community members, and policy-makers – is to do whatever is necessary to help each of our students fulfill that potential.”

Despite the increase in overall enrollment, student demographic trends remain relatively unchanged this year.

As seen last year, over half of Oregon students qualify for free or reduced priced lunch, and students of color continue to represent about 35 percent of the student population.

The fastest growing subgroup continues to be Hispanic students, who now represent 22 percent of the overall student population.

The shifts in student demographics are more evident when reviewing changes over the last decade.

Over the past 10 years, Oregon schools have seen increasing numbers of students in poverty, students with disabilities, and students of color.

Of Oregon’s 197 school districts, 55 percent saw an increase in enrollment since last year, 42% saw a decrease, and 3 percent saw no change.

Below are 2013-14 enrollment figures for the state’s 10 largest school districts and the percentage change from last year.

1. Portland Public Schools 47,111 1.14%
2. Salem-Keizer School District 40,473 0.61%
3. Beaverton School District 39,433 -0.14%
4. Hillsboro School District 20,973 0.33%
5. North Clackamas School District 16,993 0.10%
6. Eugene School District 16,866 -0.86%
7. Bend-LaPine Schools 16,827 1.52%
8. Medford School District 13,574 2.93%
9. Tigard-Tualatin School District 12,718 0.61%
10. Gresham-Barlow School District 12,180 0.41%

To access 2013-14 enrollment data, including statewide numbers for race and ethnicity, go to: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=3225.