New Trier Board Briefs: District 203's Class Sizes Increase
New classes and district calendar are approved.
Enrollment, class sizes grow
New Trier Township High School saw its enrollment increase to 4,232 students spread over the Northfield and Winnetka campuses, and average class size increase from 22.4 students in the 2010-2011 school year to 22.9 students. During the 2009-2010 school year the district reported an enrollment of 4,181 students and an average class size of 22.1.
While an increase of a half-student per class might not seem like much, Superintendent Linda Yonke said the change is driven by having more large classes. The proportion of classes with 30 or more students increased from .5 percent last year to 1.5 percent this year. At the same time, the number of small classes – those with 16 or fewer students – dropped from 8.8 percent to 8.2 percent. Such small classes are usually for students who need extra help with material, or in high-level classes.
New class offerings approved
New class offerings at New Trier High School will include two math options, two engineering options, a fifth-year Spanish class, a theater ensemble class and two choral courses in summer school.
The new classes are designed to meet the needs of students, said Paul Sally, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. For example, a new Algebra 2 Essentials class will cover less material than the usual Algebra 2 class for students who need more time to master more abstract elements. Meanwhile a Theater Ensemble class will allow performance students to perform in a variety of venues and share their love of theater with younger children.
2012-2013 calendar set
The 2012-2013 school calendar at New Trier will include 182 school days, one more day than this year, according to the calendar presented at the Oct. 17 New Trier Township High School District 203 school board meeting.
Under the teacher contract approved in August, the district added one day this year and one more day next year.
Yonke said that, as in previous years, it was impossible for New Trier and the six elementary districts who send students there to agree on start and end dates, but they did usually been able to align winter and spring break dates to make it easier for families to make travel plans.
New Trier classes will begin Aug. 22, 2012 and end June 7, 2013. Winter break will be Dec. 22-Jan. 7 and spring break will be March 23-April 1.
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Margaret Mcintyre
6:47 am on Friday, January 6, 2012
The 2011 New Trier class is comprised of students born in 1998 and 1999, when the economy was booming and housing values were rising. It would be helpful to consult the Kasarda demographic statistics to predict NT enrollment for the next five years, subtracting some percentage for the student's whose families were forced to move during the 2008-2010 downturn. My guess, is the NT enrollment has peaked or is close to peaking. Look to current enrollment statistics in the feeder schools, the numbers are there.