A Back to School Special Report on the Baby Boom Echo: No End in Sight (August 19, 1999)
The Baby Boom Echo:
No End in Sight
The West and South Lead Nation's School Enrollment Growth
Regionally, the West and South will continue to lead the nation in enrollment increases in elementary and secondary education. Between 1989 and 2009, the West will see enrollment increase over 35 percent, while the South will see almost a 20 percent increase during the same period of time.
Some states will encounter enormous increases in enrollment over this 20-year period. Nevada, for example, will see a 105 percent jump and Arizona will see a 66 percent increase. In sheer numbers, California leads the nation as an additional 1.68 million students enter that state's classrooms between 1989 and 2009.
While many states went through their great periods of high growth during the last 10 years, some states, primarily in the West and Southwest, show no signs of slowing. California, for example, will see its student population increase by over 7 percent in the next 10 years, a total of 428,000 additional students (Table 3). Texas will have to educate an additional 316,000 students.
Idaho and New Mexico also will see continued enrollment pressures. Georgia will lead the enrollment growth in the Southeast, with an increase of 115,000 students over the next 10 years. Illinois will lead the Midwest with 60,000 more students expected between 1999 and 2009.
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[ Policy Implications of Increasing Enrollment ]
[ Crush of Students Comes from Both Cities and Suburbs ]
Last Updated -- August 19, 1999, (smj)