Derby Public Schools' enrollment report on Oct. 27 showed a slight overall decrease in headcount compared with prior years, an increase in English-language learners and continued strong demand from nonresident families seeking seats in the district.

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Holly Putnam Jackson told the board the district's four-year trend showed about a 63-student overall decline this year when private-school counts are included, but the district-only subtotal was slightly up. The district's headcount is based on the official September 22 count date used for state reporting.

Dr. Putnam Jackson said free-and-reduced-lunch numbers were down roughly 2.5 percentage points from the prior report, while English-language learners rose from 499 last year to 579 this year — an increase of about 80 students. Special-education enrollment trended down about 64 students over the four-year span, though the district cautioned that certain placements (homebound, residential placements and out-of-district placements) are counted separately and that identification continues through the school year.

The board also received a separate nonresident-enrollment report from Assistant Superintendent Becky Mater. Mater said the district received more than 476 new nonresident applications (about 30 were duplicates) and that seat availability varies widely by school and grade. Derby High School had no open seats; middle-school eighth-grade seats were filled; kindergarten and second-grade seats were in short supply across many elementary schools, while fourth- and fifth-grade openings were more common.

Mater told the board the largest share of nonresident requests came from Wichita Public Schools (285 requests), followed by smaller numbers from Haysville, Mulvane and Rose Hill. The district continues to apply its good-standing criteria (behavior and attendance checks) as part of the nonresident screening; students with a history of out-of-school suspension or multiple unexcused absences may be denied enrollment.

Board members asked whether tardies are included in the good-standing review; Mater said the screening currently focuses on absences but that chronic tardiness is considered informally when reviewing records and could influence enrollment decisions.