There are 370 fewer enrolled students in Jefferson County Public Schools this year as compared to the 2015-2016 academic year, keeping the sprawling district on the west side of the metro area as the second largest in the state.
The district, which released its enrollment numbers Tuesday, said it has 86,361 students in the system. Denver Public Schools has the largest student body in Colorado, with 91,429 students as of October 2015.
Denver and hasn’t relinquished it since.
This year’s decreased enrollment in Jefferson County follows three consecutive years of increases, during which an additional 1,189 students came into the system. Superintendent Dan McMinimee said this year’s decrease is likely due to higher home prices in the eastern part of the county. But he acknowledged that explosive growth in northwest Arvada, with its overcrowded schools, is keeping the dip from going deeper.
“We’ll continue to allocate our limited resources the best we can to carry on our tradition of excellence,” McMinimee said.
The numbers from Jefferson County Public Schools, which has 155 schools on 168 campuses, must still be reviewed and finalized by the Colorado Department of Education.
