Enrollment in Lincoln-Way area schools is increasing faster than expected.
Lincoln-Way High School Assistant Supt. Joe Davis, who recently surveyed enrollment patterns in New Lenox, Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Manhattan and Mokena schools, said at a board meeting last week that elementary school enrollment is surging.
“The data exhibits more growth in our district than we have had in the past,” Davis said. “There are a lot of young children out in the Lincoln-Way High School district.”
New Lenox Elementary School District 122 registered the largest number of new pupils this year, and the Summit Hill School District in Frankfort Square enrolled the largest percentage of new pupils, he said.
The growth pattern indicates Lincoln-Way, which will split its junior-senior central campus in New Lenox from its freshman-sophomore east campus in Frankfort next year, may have to consider building a third school earlier than expected, he said.
“The growth is more rapid than we have seen in the past,” Davis said.
A 2 percent growth rate puts the district at maximum enrollment at the east campus in seven or eight years, and growth has traditionally run between 2 and 4 percent, Davis said.
Lincoln-Way’s official enrollment for the 2000-2001 school year was about 5,000 as of Sept. 30.
“Next year we anticipate 5,200 to 5,300 students,” Davis said.
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