The present enrollment at Evanston Township High School is the highest it’s been in 30 years, according to a memo from the school’s Department of Research, Evaluation & Assessment that was presented to the District 202 Board of Education Monday night.
The numbers were contained in the annual Opening School Report, based on enrollment as of Sept. 30. This year, total enrollment stood at 3,613, compared with 3,567 last year, 3,393 two years ago, 3,322 three years ago, and 3,238 four years ago.
Each of the four grades has shown increases in the last four years. The number of ninth graders has increased from 874 to 960; tenth graders from 760 to 955; eleventh graders from 755 to 812, and twelfth graders from 697 to 795. The number of students enrolled off campus and at an undisclosed “safe school” declined from 152 in 2014 to 91 this year.
Looked at from a racial/ethnicity perspective, growth has occurred among white students, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian. Only the number of black/African American students has declined.
Consequently, white students now constitute 45.6 percent of the student body vs. 43.7 percent four years ago; Hispanic/Latino students are now 18.5 percent vs. 16.6 percent; Asian students are now 5.6 percent vs. 4.8 percent; and black/African American students are now 27.3 percent vs. 30.2 percent four years ago.
There was little discussion among board members about the trends Monday night, but Superintendent Eric Witherspoon commented, “Thank you, parents. Keep those children coming.”
Related document:
2018-2019 Opening School Report