August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Fewer students are enrolled in the DeKalb County School System than this time last year.
Comparing the numbers for the period of August 7-14 total enrollment from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade district wide was 2,955 as of Wednesday (August 14), down by 33 students from 2,988 last year.
This marks the third year in a row that enrollment district-wide has been lower than the year before. Two years ago, enrollment to start the school year in August 2022 was 3,007 which was 52 students more than this year.
“Our enrollment numbers are down, and I think it goes back to the easy availability of home schools. Its affecting enrollment in school districts across the state,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.
More than a decade ago in August 2013, DeKalb County’s student enrollment district-wide was 3,052 or 97 more than today.
According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the August numbers are down from last year by 33 students at Northside Elementary School, 16 at Smithville Elementary, and by 13 pupils at DeKalb Middle School but the count is up by 12 at DeKalb County High and by 15 students at DeKalb West School.
Currently, the largest class by grade district-wide is kindergarten with 246 students followed by the fourth and nine grade classes each with 243 students. The smallest class district-wide other than the pre-K classes is twelfth grade at 189 students.
As of Wednesday, August 14 enrollment at each school was as follows compared to last year:
DCHS: 826 (up by 12 students) * In August 2013 DCHS enrollment was 834.
DeKalb Middle School: 559 (down by 13 students) *In August 2013, DMS enrollment stood at 592.
Northside Elementary: 559 (down by 33 students) *In August 2013, the Northside enrollment was 591.
Smithville Elementary: 534 (down by 16 students) * In August 2013, the Smithville Elementary enrollment was 621.
DeKalb West School: 475 (up by 15 students) *In August 2013, the DWS enrollment stood at 414.
The following is the current enrollment by grade system-wide:
Pre-K: Smithville Elementary-66 (down by 20)
Pre-K: DeKalb West-13 (down by 2)
Kindergarten: 246 (up by 32)
First Grade: 210 (down by 8)
Second Grade: 207 (down by 23)
Third Grade: 217 (down by 30)
Fourth Grade: 243 (up by 32)
Fifth Grade: 218 (down by 30)
Sixth Grade: 242(up by 11)
Seventh Grade: 234 (down by 3)
Eighth Grade: 231 (down by 7)
Ninth Grade: 243 (up by 32)
Tenth Grade: 193 (down by 13)
Eleventh Grade: 202 (same)
Twelfth Grade: 189 (down by 6)
TOTAL ENROLLMENT DISTRICT-WIDE: 2,955 (down by 33)
The enrollment by school breaks down as follows:
Smithville Elementary: Pre-K 66, Kindergarten-190, First grade-162, and Second grade-116: Total 534
Northside Elementary: Second grade-37, Third grade-162, Fourth grade-192, Fifth grade-168: Total 559
DeKalb West School: Pre-K 13, Kindergarten-56, First grade-48, Second grade-54, Third grade-55, Fourth grade 50, Fifth grade-50, Sixth grade-54, Seventh grade-47, and Eighth grade 48: Total 475.
DeKalb Middle School: Sixth grade-188, Seventh grade-187, Eighth grade-184: Total 559
DeKalb County High School: Ninth grade-243. Tenth grade-193, Eleventh grade-202, and Twelfth grade-189: Total 827
Reeder also provided numbers on how the enrollment has been trending over the last 11 years district wide.
Year 2014: 3,005 students
2015: 3,015 students (up by 10 students)
2016: 2,950 students (down by 65 students)
2017: 3,039 students (up by 89 students)
2018: 2,993 students (down by 46 students)
2019: 2,999 students (up by 6 students)
2020: 2,881 students (down by 118 students)
2021: 3,044 students (up by 163 students)
2022: 3,007 students (down by 37 students)
2023: 2,988 students (down by 19 students)
2024: 2,955 (down by 33 students)
Enrollment numbers at each school from 2014-2024:
Smithville Elementary: Year 2014-609; Year 2015-569; Year 2016-540; Year 2017-578; Year 2018-556; Year 2019-561; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-574; Year 2022-581; Year 2023-550; Year 2024-534
Northside Elementary: Year 2014-623; Year 2015-658; Year 2016-640; Year 2017-639; Year 2018-603; Year 2019-594; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-578; Year 2022-577; Year 2023-592; Year 2024-559
DeKalb West School: Year 2014-389; Year 2015-382; Year 2016-376; Year 2017-409; Year 2018-389; Year 2019-397; Year 2020-384; Year 2021-425; Year 2022-447; Year 2023-460; Year 2024-475
DeKalb Middle School: Year 2014-554; Year 2015-536; Year 2016-521; Year 2017-546; Year 2018-572; Year 2019-607; Year 2020-579; Year 2021-577; Year 2022-544; Year 2023-572; Year 2024-559