The school district is just five short of 10,000 students
Gilroy – Enrollment throughout Gilroy Unified School District has reached a record high this year with nearly 10,000 students registered, about 140 more than initially projected. The district is shy just 20 students of breaking the five digit mark – and is experiencing pockets of growth in the elementary grades.
“We have a few bubbles,” said Juanita Contin who serves as GUSD’s coordinator of enrollment and parent involvement.
First grade has the most students enrolled with 860 – about 170 more than the lowest grade – the 11th grade.
The kindergarten and fourth grades have also seen an increase, however, district officials have shifted staffing and hired additional elementary teachers to compensate for the overages, Contin explained.
“We haven’t really had to overflow students from any schools except Eliot,” Contin said. “People have been able to enroll in their neighborhood schools.”
Though parents have the option of sending their child to a school other than the one in their neighborhood, space availability has prevented most from exercising that right.
Although according to Contin, there are about 50 students attending Ascencion Solorsano Middle School who live outside the area. The three-year old middle school added its first eighth grade class this year.
Now all three middle schools are balanced and have slightly fewer than 800 students.
“I don’t think they’re maxed out, but they’re comfortable,” Contin explained. “The high school is getting a little full.”
With the latest calculations showing about 2,600 students – the new Christopher High School is a welcome sight on the horizon. Construction is scheduled to begin on the new high school in 2007.
