Lincoln Public Schools released their Fall Membership Count as of October 1 and district officials say they were not surprised by what they saw. “With the opening of two new schools this year we expected there to be shifts in school numbers,” says Matt Larson, LPS associate superintendent of Instruction. “The new schools provided relief for staff and the infrastructure on already overcrowded school buildings. The addition of another new high school next fall will allow other high schools to also experience that relief next year.”
The total enrollment for LPS grew 18 students from last year to 41,766. During the budget process, LPS had projected a decline of 196 students this year due to the number of births reported in Lancaster County.
LPS officials say Kooser Elementary School overtook Belmont as the largest elementary school in Lincoln growing the most with 67 students for a total of 888. Roper is the second largest elementary school with 865 followed by Belmont with 815 students.
Scott Middle School remains the largest despite losing 45 students with 1137. East remains the largest high school with 2,256 students. Lincoln High is second largest with 2,172 and Southwest is close behind with 2,170. North Star with 2,073 students makes it four high schools with populations over 2,000.