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Isle school
enrollment down

While the number of
regular-education students
is declining, the number
in special education is going up

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

For the third year in a row, the number of students attending public schools has declined in most districts across the state, according to figures released today by the Department of Education.

The official enrollment count for the 2000-2001 school year is 183,520, down from last year's total of 185,036.

But while the number of regular-education students is declining, the number in special education is going up, mainly due to the effort of the state to comply with a federal court order to meet the educational and mental health needs of special-education students.

This year's special-education count increased to 20,138 from 19,269 last year.

The largest increase in overall enrollment comes in the growing Leeward District, which continues to be the largest school district in the state. This year's Leeward total is 37,152, up from 36,919 last year.

Maui District also saw a slight increase, to 21,645 this year from 21,570 last year.

Enrollment is an important number in the Department of Education because it determines how much money a school gets and how many teachers they hire.

Public school enrollment during the last three years has declined by more than 5,500.

The official enrollment figure came in higher than what DOE officials had projected - 182,328 - which means the declines in each school district were not as drastic as officials had forecast.