Where has public school enrollment grown the most in the last 25 years?
In 1988, the state of Nevada had 176,474 students enrolled in public school districts. Twenty-five years later, the public school student population in the state had more than doubled, to 451,831, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education. Nevada was by far the state with the greatest percentage growth in enrollment over the last quarter-century.
Nationwide, public school district enrollment was 50,044,522 in 2013-14, a 24.5 percent increase over the 1988-89 figure of 40,188,690. Sixteen states, led by Nevada, outpaced the nationwide growth rate, and 34 states plus the District of Columbia had below average growth in student population. Ten states and the District of Columbia experienced a net loss in enrollment over 25 years.
How did your state fare?
Click on the map to find out.
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

