NEW YORK – School enrollment in New York City has plateaued in recent years, but based on preliminary data, the Department of Education has seen enrollment increase by approximately 1 percent, or roughly 8,000 students for the 2023-2024 school year, the Philippine Daily Mirror has learned. With this uptick in student enrollment, the number of students registered in the DOE is 915,000, maintaining the city’s status as the nation’s largest school district.
“When we say New York City is back, we are not just talking about our economy — we are talking about our communities and our entire city. And after eight years of declining enrollment, New York City public schools are back,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Chancellor Banks and our administration are focused on delivering the best education possible for our young New Yorkers by cutting through bureaucracy, expanding outreach, and making enrollment easier. New Yorkers are voting with their feet, and we are excited to see funding increase for so many of our public schools.”
DOE Chancellor David E. Banks was thrilled with this development. “With a majority of schools gaining additional funding during this mid-year adjustment, we are well positioned to meet the challenges ahead,” he said. “However, to continue our progress and ensure the success of our students, particularly those in temporary housing, we urgently need increased state and federal funding.”
DOE said that this positive trend is a testament to the practical strategies it has implemented, including the Project Open Arms initiative. In line with the standard timeline, audited and finalized enrollment data will be available in the spring as part of the demographic snapshot. As this data — current as of October 31, 2023 — is preliminary and unaudited, students can still enter or leave the system, and the data can fluctuate until the audit process is complete.
This increase in enrollment is particularly significant, DOE said, as the city navigates the post-COVID-19 era without the benefit of federal stimulus funds. This year, approximately 57 percent of schools are expected to receive $183 million — an average of $209,000 per school — in additional Fair Student Funding due to higher-than-projected enrollment. The city’s commitment to equitable education is further reflected in its Fair Student Funding policy, which ensures that schools with higher enrollments and serve students with additional needs receive the necessary resources to support their students. Increased enrollment will bolster the DOE’s advocacy for other state and federal funding.
DOE has also published its annual class size report today, which shows that the city complies with the state’s new class size mandates for this school year. To comply with state law mandates of smaller class sizes over the coming years, the city said additional resources will be required to support schools across the city equitably. The city also said it will continue to advocate for state and federal funding to help students and families as the law is implemented.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
