Across all 23 buildings and grade levels, enrollment within Naperville School District 203 is down in year-over-year comparisons, according to a report from administrators at a recent board of education meeting.
As of Sept. 30, District 203 is reporting 15,557 total students enrolled, which is a decrease of 25 students from the 15,582 enrollees reported on the same date in the 2022-23 school year.
District 203 elementary, junior high up; high school down
While District 203’s total overall enrollment is down, the decline is pinpointed at the high school level. Overall elementary enrollment is up 9 students, and junior high enrollment has increased 52 students. But 86 fewer students are attending high school this year, compared to 2022-23.
A total of 6,980 students are enrolled in District 203’s elementary schools, compared to 6,971 students a year ago. Total junior high enrollment was 3,614 students this school year, compared to 3,562 students in 2022-23.
As of the Sept 30 count, District 203 had on record 4,963 high schoolers, compared to 5,049 students a year ago.
No specific reason attributed to high school decline
During the recent discussion, several board members inquired about the high school decline and potential reasons behind the data.
Chuck Freundt, assistant superintendent for elementary education, was one of four administrators within District 203 who analyzed and distilled this year’s enrollment data.
“I’m not sure that we have any specific reason,” Freundt said of the high school decline. “There’s theories around families that are moving in, and moving out, and how that adjusts enrollment across time.”
More than likely, Freundt and other administrators said the decline is attributable to a myriad of reasons.
“I suppose at high school, with private schools and things in the area, that might be another factor,” Freundt said, providing one possible scenario.
Enrollment decline was anticipated, based on projections
Superintendent Dan Bridges said the enrollment data was anticipated, based on demographic studies and trend forecasting.
“It’s been trending down, even prior to the pandemic,” Bridges said of high school enrollment. “It’s been occurring for a while, and we’ve been planning for it.”
While the lower grades are experiencing an uptick in enrollment, Freundt said that trend will not necessarily correlate to an increase in high school in the years ahead.
“Our sense right now, based on projections … is that our high school enrollment will pretty much stay steady or decrease a little bit, compared to elementary and middle school,” Freundt said.
But the upending nature of COVID-19 has challenged some of the enrollment forecasting, meaning there could be further shifts in future school years.
“We are still coming out of a couple of years with some oddities, in terms of enrollment, back when we were still experiencing the pandemic, so that still is, in terms of our demographer’s report, and impact,” Freundt said.
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