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CPS Enrollment Falls by 6,000 Students, Adjusts School Budgets

By  Tanveer Ali and Joe Ward | September 25, 2015 5:00pm | Updated on September 25, 2015 7:38pm

 Enrollment fell at CPS this year.
Enrollment fell at CPS this year.
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DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay (file)

CHICAGO — Enrollment in Chicago Public Schools dropped by more than 6,000 students this year compared with last, according to figures released by the district Friday.

The number of students enrolled across all CPS schools dropped to 367,499, from 373,087 last year. That number is based on attendance numbers from the 10th day of the 2015-2016 school year.

Unlike the past two years when budgets were based on projected enrollment rather than actual enrollment, CPS is adjusting individual school budgets this year based on the 10th-day enrollment.

This move will result in 262 of more than 500 schools receiving less money than anticipated. Those 262 schools will see their cumulative budgets for the year shrink by $36 million.

"This year budgetary constraints mean that the district can no longer afford to hold those schools harmless," according to a district news release. 

Four schools will lose more than $1 million in funding this year, whereas only two stand to increase funding levels by $1 million, according to CPS.

One of this year' largest losses in funding is at Ogden International School, which is considering merging with nearby Jenner Elementary. Ogden, in the Gold Coast, will lose $1,059,129.

The schools that will lose the most money include:

1. Foreman High School in Portage Park will lose $1,322,693, the most of any school, according to CPS. The school is 144 students below its projected number.

2. Manley High School in East Garfield Park will lose $1,081,786 after it enrolled 89 fewer students than projected.

3. Schurz High School in Irving Park will lose $1,066,223 due to it losing 156 students, the second largest dip in enrollment, according to the CPS data.

Dunbar High School in Bronzeville lost the most students, with 173 students fewer than its projected total. The school will lose $990,393.

The schools with the highest increase in funding include:

1. Edwards Elementary in Archer Heights, which will increase funding by $1,356,730 after its enrollment jumped by 93 kids, according to CPS.

2. Kelly High School in Brighton Park, which gained 101 students and $1,293,138 in funding.

3. Johnson Elementary in North Lawndale, which saw the biggest jump in enrollment at 132 student, will gain an extra $943,394 in funding, CPS said.

Almost the entire drop came in district-run schools, including neighborhood and magnet schools, where overall enrollment dropped from 308,977 to 302,834, or 2 percent.

Charter and contract schools had an increase of enrollment from 59,068 last year to 59,998 this year.

CPS said 10 schools saw a loss in funding of $500,000 or more, while 116 lost between $100,000 and $500,000. Only 2 schools gained more than $500,000, while 88 gained between $100,000 and $500,000.

To see how much your neighborhood school stands to gain or lose, search the information below.

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