Enrollment Down Slightly in Libertyville District 70

Sixth day enrollment figures for Libertyville Elementary District 70 showed a very slight 0.16 percent drop from last year’s sixth day numbers.

“We’ve seen a very slight decrease from last year; we’re down four students districtwide,” said Superintendent Dr. Guy Schumacher. 

For the last six years District 70 has seen a slight decline in enrollment for the official Sixth Day Enrollment figures. As the community is built out, the relatively stable district does not expect large variations in enrollment. The mild decrease in students cannot be attributed to any one thing, but might be a mixture of attrition or less mobility because of the struggling economy.

Enrollment for District 70 reached 2,439 students on Aug. 28, compared to 2,443 students a year ago. 

The decrease in students can be seen in three of five schools.  

Copeland Manor School saw a decrease for the first time in several years of 1.5 percent, while Highland Middle School continues to see a negligible drop of 1 percent. Adler Park also saw a 2 percent decrease this year.

The largest enrollment increase is seen at Butterfield School, which saw an increase of 3 percent compared to a 3 percent decrease last year. So essentially, enrollment at the school is where it was two years ago. This year, there were 532 students at school on the sixth day, compared to 517 a year ago. The increase can be seen in a few more Early Intervention Program students, as well as additional students in first and fourth grades.

Rockland School also saw a percent increase with 286 students this year compared to 284 students last year. Again there is an enrollment increase in the Early Intervention Program, as well as in first and third grades.

For sixth day enrollment figures this year, Copeland counted 397 students compared to 403 a year ago, while Highland Middle School saw 963 students this year compared to 973 students a year ago. Adler Park showed an enrollment of 261 students this year compared to 266 a year ago. 

“While the decrease is nothing drastic, we would expect an increase as the economy and subsequent housing market eventually take a turn for the better,” Dr. Schumacher added. 

This year’s enrollment figures for the district do not include 21 students enrolled in the Special Education District of Lake County and private schools, or 15 out-of-district students placed in the two SEDOL classes at Butterfield School.
 
The enrollment figures for D70 also do not place full-time kindergarten students in their home schools, but rather counts them in the school where they are attending this year. Other interesting facts seen in the first week of school for District 70 includes a 20 percent increase in the number of students where their home language is something other than English. This year, 297 students come from homes where 41 different languages are spoken other than English.

—Submitted by Libertyville Elementary District 70.