BRIDGEPORT — Over the last year, enrollment at McClellan Elementary — a school once targeted by Chicago Public Schools for closure — has jumped more than 18 percent.
CPS this week released enrollment data comparing this year’s 10th-day enrollment to last year’s 20th-day enrollment. At McClellan, 3527 S. Wallace St., the number of students increased from 263 last year to 311 this year.
McClellan Principal Joseph Shoffner did not return requests to comment on his school's jump in enrollment, but education advocates said the student surge is a big deal.
"The McClellan community really rallied when the school was on the initial school closings list," said Jennie Biggs, a Bridgeport parent and board member of education-advocacy organization Raise Your Hand.
The area's other big winner was Back of the Yards High School, carrying one of the largest student bodies on the South Side. Over the past year, enrollment at the school, 2111 W. 47th St., jumped more than 32 percent — from 790 to 1,046.
Other schools did not fare as well.
Across the city, public school enrollment dropped by 3.5 percent this year compared with last, according to information provided by CPS. That could mean layoffs for 300 teachers and support staff members.
During the last 10 years, enrollment has fallen 6.8 percent at public schools in Chicago, with half of that drop coming since September 2015, according to district enrollment data. That means cuts at 306 schools throughout the city will total $30.7 million.
Here’s a look at how enrollment fared at Bridgeport-area schools in the 60608, 60609 and 60616 ZIP codes — including Bridgeport, Chinatown, Canaryville and Back of the Yards:
• Back of the Yards High School: 1,046, +32.41 percent
• Dewey Elementary: 343, +4.57 percent
• Healy: 1,394, +1.09 percent
• Pershing East: 590, +14.79 percent
• James Ward: 518, +1.17 percent
• Mark Sheridan: 564, +0.89 percent
• Chavez Elementary: 915, +1.10 percent
• Arthur A. Libby Elementary: 375, +4.17 percent
• Haines: 635, +1.93 percent
• Daley Elementary: 581, +0.87 percent.
Here are the schools that lost enrollment:
• Graham Elementary: 409, -4.66 percent
• Beethoven Elementary: 347, -9.64 percent
• Doolittle East: 251, -7.04 percent
• Beasley Elementary: 1,187, -6.39 percent
• Hedges Elementary: 614, -4.36 percent
• Evergreen Academy: 305, -3.79 percent
• Richards Career Academy: 249, -9.78 percent
• Holden: 461, No Change
• Hendricks Community Academy: 204, -4.67 percent
• Lara Academy: 416, -3.03 percent
• Tilden Career Community Academy: 267, -14.15 percent
• Bronzeville Scholastic Institute: 377, -15.86 percent
• Sherman School of Excellence: 257, -12.88 percent
• Hamline Elementary: 560, -4.76 percent
• Armour: 254, -5.58 percent
• Seward: 690, -5.87 percent
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