Enrollment Down 2 Percent Over Last Year in District 70

Sixth day enrollment figures for showed a slight 2 percent drop from last year’s sixth day numbers.

“We’ve slightly decreased from last year; we’re down 59 students,” said Superintendent Dr. Guy Schumacher.  

For the last five years District 70 has seen a slight decline in enrollment for the official Sixth Day Enrollment figures. As the community is built out, the 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 2,443 students on Aug. 29, compared to 2,502 students a year ago.

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

continues to see an increase in students, and the drop in Highland Middle School students is negligible at 1 percent.

Enrollment at Copeland Manor School continues to inch upwards for the second consecutive year with 403 students this year, compared to 401 students a year ago.

saw a small drop in enrollment with 973 students this year compared to 979 students a year ago.

The largest decrease in enrollment can be seen at with 284 students this year compared to 309 students a year ago, which equals an 8 percent decrease. also dropped with 266 students reporting to class on the sixth day compared to 282 students a year ago.

The largest elementary school, , counted 517 students this year compared to 531 students last year, showing a 3 percent decrease in enrollment.

“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 24 students enrolled in the Special Education District of Lake County and private schools, or 10 out-of-district students placed in the SEDOL class at Butterfield School.  

Other interesting facts seen in the first week of school for District 70 includes an increase in the number of students where their home language is something other than English. This year, 214 students come from homes where 33 different languages are spoken other than English.

The number of homeless children also is down 57 percent this year, a sign that the economy may be recovering.

- District 70 provided this information.