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Enrollment down slightly from last year; district adds special‑education supports and tech staff
Summary
As of Aug. 31, 2025, District 64 reported enrollment of 4,491 (down 98 year‑over‑year), a net loss of six sections and net staffing changes that add specialized services despite a small net certified FTE decline.
District staff presented the annual August 31 enrollment and staffing snapshot, reporting 4,491 students enrolled on that date, a decrease of 98 students from the prior year’s August 31 count. The district said the decline followed smaller cohorts moving through after COVID and aligned with demographer projections showing multiple scenarios.
The district reported a net loss of six class sections across the schools, with building-level variation: Field was down 29 students and lost two sections, Franklin was down 46 students without dropping a section, Washington experienced an uptick in kindergarten after June and changes were largely offset at the building level, and middle schools lost sections at specific grade levels (Emerson down one section in seventh grade; Lincoln down one section in eighth grade). District staff noted that class-size guidelines drive whether a section is added or dropped and that distribution across grades determines staffing needs.
On staffing, the district reported roughly 436.96 full‑time‑equivalent certificated staff in the recent year and said certified staff FTE declined by about 1.63 overall because of reallocation and retirements. The district said it added targeted positions: school psychologists to place one in every building, a special‑education instructional coach, an additional BCBA (bringing the total to two) and two technology staff (one focused on cybersecurity and one on hardware installations). Staff said these non‑certified and specialized hires will support inclusive programming and reduce outsourcing costs (staff estimated private placement costs at roughly $100,000 per outplaced student and said in‑district supports could be less costly over time).
District staff reported net increases in ESPs/TAs driven by expanding SLC programming and emphasized that some reassignments (for example, reallocating LRC TAs to classroom support) helped absorb needs without large new hires. Overall, the district said it was up 7.37 total staff across the district due to these targeted additions and program expansions. Administrators said they will continue monitoring enrollment trends and staffing needs in upcoming months and will return with more detailed projections for the 2026–27 budget cycle.
