Evanston/Skokie School District 65 can expect to see an overall decline in enrollment, but a continued increase in minority students through 2005, according to data presented at Monday’s board meeting.
The district currently has 6,946 students enrolled, but that number is expected to drop by 180 students in the next five years.
This drop represents the first projected enrollment decrease in more than a decade. To compute such projections, the district uses Evanston birth data to derive kindergarten figures.
Enrollment projections function as a guide for the allocation of classroom space. While space is at a premium for 2001, the predicted decrease in enrollment will free up classrooms in some schools. Data for Washington Elementary School, however, shows a continuing shortage of classroom space over the next five years.
Judith Levinson, director of research, evaluation and planning for District 65, said the drop is attributable to a decline in the birth rate and number of school-age children enrolling in district schools.
In previous years, about 72 percent of the children born in Evanston enrolled in District 65 kindergartens, but the figure has since dropped to 69 percent, Levinson said.
The enrollment projections also reflect the changing racial composition of District 65. The district is composed of 42 percent white students and 58 percent minority students. Minority students fall under either the black or the “other” category, which includes Hispanic, Asian and Native American students.
With the exception of Oakton Elementary School, the schools in the district comply with the 60-40 guideline, stipulating that “no defined racial group shall exceed 60 percent of a school population.”
Levinson said that every school is projected to meet this guideline over the next five years.
In 2005, the district is projected to be 60 percent minority and 40 percent white.
A 3 percent increase in the number of students identified as “other” is predicted for 2005. In the 2000-01 school year, the number of Hispanic kindergartners was 69 out of the 119 students classified under “other.”
¼ The board also discussed issues related to facility improvements at the schools. Timber Ridge Magnet and Lincoln Elementary schools are slated to receive complete roof replacement work over the summer. The need to move swiftly to replace the main water pipeline at Walker Elementary School was stressed. Playground and electrical upgrades at various schools were also discussed.
¼ The board also decided to extend the modification of the physical education school code for the next five years. The code allows students experiencing difficulty in class work to receive extra academic help during physical education periods.
