Seattle school sign-up points to more students

Amid teacher layoffs, school closures and other budget cuts, Seattle Public Schools may have at least one area of growth next year: students.

During the enrollment sign-up that ended in March, the school district received 400 more kindergarten applications this year than last.

District officials estimate that could mean anywhere from 200 to 500 more students in Seattle schools in September. It would be the second increase in two years — reversing a general downward trend over the past decade.

Officials won't know for sure how many students they'll have until September. While the increase in applications is encouraging, they caution it might simply mean families want a backup for private school in case a parent loses a job.

"We hear a lot of families were hedging their bets," said School Board member Harium Martin-Morris.

It also could simply mean fewer families are able to afford private school. The Washington Federation of Independent Schools says that private-school enrollment across the state is expected to be down by 5 to 10 percent.

And some see it as a signal that the public's confidence in Seattle's public schools is growing.

"I'm really excited," said School Board President Michael DeBell. "It shows we're doing plenty of things right."

Last fall, enrollment grew by about 300 students, up from a decade low of 45,276 in fall 2007. If it grows again, Seattle's student population could top 46,000, the highest since 2005.

Such growth would have financial benefits in a year or two, because much of the money the district receives is on a per-pupil basis.

It also may mean that the district's decision earlier this year to close five schools didn't drive away as many families as some had feared — at least not enough to cause overall district enrollment to drop.

While Seattle school officials warn not to read too much into the numbers, they are taking steps to accommodate the increase. So far, they've added an additional kindergarten class at seven schools: Bagley, Leschi, Muir, Lafayette, Roxhill, Whittier and Loyal Heights. (The growth this year is in different places than last year, when the northeast section of the city and the Queen Anne and Magnolia neighborhoods saw big kindergarten increases.)

Officials say they may add classes at other schools, too, if there's a need. For now, they continue to watch.

"I hate the wait-and-see," said Martin-Morris, "but we'll have to wait and see."

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com