New Canaan Public Schools Enrollment Totals Released For 2018-19

NEW CANAAN, CT — Student enrollment will drop slightly for the upcoming year, according to New Canaan Public Schools officials.

In a Board of Education meeting Monday night, Gary Kass, the district's Director of Human Resources, said that despite the decrease of 52 students, enrollment totals "remain strong" for the year.

Total district enrollment for the upcoming school year currently stands at 4,171 students, which represents a decrease of 56 students, or about 1 percent, from the 4,227 student projection by the New England School Development Council (NESDEC). The 4,171 figure is down 52 total students, K-12, from last year's total of 4,223.

"We are well within our classroom guidelines as we enter the school year," said Mr. Kass, "and we are in a good place at this point. Enrollment numbers are a moving target, but we monitor our numbers very closely throughout the summer months."

From Kass' presentation:

The 2018-2019 breakdown by schools:
East Elementary: 536; South Elementary: 517; West Elementary: 487. Total: 1540. The number marks a decrease of 33 total elementary students from last year (1573), however there were enrollment increases in PreK (+9 students), Grade 2 (+7 students), and Grade 4 (+21 students).

Saxe Middle School’s total of 1337 was an increase of 6 students from last year (1331). Enrollment increases occurred in Grade 6 (+20 students) and Grade 8 (+48 students).

New Canaan High School’s total of 1294 students reflected a decrease of 25 students from last year (1319), with class increases in Grade 10 (+64 students) and Grade 12 (+9 students).

Current class size guidelines are:
Grades K-3, 16 to 20 pupils
Grades 4-8, 20 to 24 pupils
Grades 9-12, 14 to 25 pupils

Staffing updates include 40 new hires, which includes 22 teachers (17 full-time certified and 5 long term subs).

New Canaan Public School’s first day of school is Thursday, August 30, 2018.

Photo: Gary Kass. Photo credit: New Canaan Public Schools