Something happened in Birmingham schools this year, that hasn’t happened in more than three decades – the system didn’t have a drop in enrollment.
Birmingham City Schools showed a slight increase in enrollment with a total of 24,290 students. That’s three more than the year before — a shift for a school system where steady enrollment declines in previous years had forced cuts in staff and services.
Newly elected Birmingham School Board President Wardine Alexander says this milestone can benefit the district.
“By increasing the number of students that increases the funding we get from the state. It also gives us an opportunity to provide more programs,” she says.
Kindergarten and primary grades account for the strongest enrollment in the system with more than 2,000 students in each grade from pre-K to Third, according to data from the State Department of Education.
Alexander says the school system has increased the number of pre-K programs and hopes strong enrollment there and in primary grades will fuel future growth.