CPS Enrollment Drops By Nearly 10000 Students

CHICAGO, IL -- Chicago Public Schools released official numbers for the 2107-18 school year Friday, which revealed enrollment was down nearly 10,000 students from a year ago. The district said the numbers fell below projections. Based on the 20th day of the school year, CPS counted 371,382 students.

“As CPS puts the cloud of fiscal uncertainty behind us, we know that there are bright days ahead when we can focus together on supporting the academic gains that students are making, thanks to committed educators in schools,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool in a statement. “Even as demographic trends outside our control – especially the birth rate and immigration to this country – affect our overall population, our schools will continue to be among the best schools in the nation and every child in every neighborhood will be able to get a great education in a Chicago Public School.”

In addition to holding schools harmless for enrollment below projections, the district said it would not make additional midyear budget cuts or furlough staff.

"Because of the district’s improved financial ground and more certainty about the coming year, schools can expect to receive preliminary budgets earlier in the school year," the district stated in a media release.

Last year, CPS counted 381,349, which was down by about 11,000 from the previous year.

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