Special Report: Red Flags In Delaware Student Enrollment Trends & The Increase In Special Education

September 30th Counts

The Delaware Department of Education released the September 30th counts report for the 2018-2019 school year.  Enrollment in Delaware is up by 775 students.  Special education is on the rise, jumping to over 16%. There are some very odd trends going on with different sub-groups in Delaware.  Ones that are making me VERY suspicious.

For the most part, the populations between traditional school districts, vo-techs, and charter schools is flat overall.  Some districts are rising in enrollment: Appoquinimink, Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Colonial, Milford, and Smyra.  Both Christina and Red Clay are continuing their downward trends but they are still the two biggest districts in the state.

Certain charter schools saw big jumps but those are attributed to students rising to a new grade the school didn’t have before.  Those schools are Academia Antonia Alonso, First State Montessori Academy, Freire, and Odyssey.  Charters rising in numbers without new grades are First State Military Academy, Las Americas ASPIRAS, MOT, Newark Charter School, and Sussex Academy.

Three charters saw a decrease in enrollment that is a bit concerning: Early College High School, Gateway, and Kuumba.  These developments have some red flags, especially with the last two.

Special Education continues to rise in some districts and charters: Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Capital, Christina, Colonial, Lake Forest, Milford, Red Clay, Smyrna, Polytech, Great Oaks, Las Americas ASPIRAS, Odyssey, and Providence Creek all saw significant increases.  Districts and charters with drops in special education enrollments: Caesar Rodney, Indian River, and Sussex Academy.  Both of the charter schools that tend to tailor to special education, Gateway and Positive Outcomes saw a decrease in the number of IEPs.  The number of 504 plans are not reported so there could be more of those.  First State Montessori Academy saw a marginal drop, but given the school has a new grade and the overall population went up, this is something to watch in future years.

With the increase in special education students, this is more money flowing into schools.   That money comes from local school taxes (in the form of tuition tax as well), state funding, and federal IDEA funding.  Many school district boards opted to vote no for class-size waivers in earlier grades this year.  This was due to the increase in basic special education funding for grades K-3.  While the Delaware General Assembly didn’t give the full ask for this funding, it did see a big increase from what it had before.

On the DOE website, they have not yet reported sub-group demographics for Delaware schools for the 2018-2019 school year.  I did go back and report those numbers for the 2017-2018 school year.  There was a dramatic rise in English-Language learners between 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.  There has been a huge push in this area and classification for it must have changed.  This is something the Rodel Foundation has been talking about for the past couple of years.  I have no doubt Rodel will try to cash in on this if they aren’t already.  While Delaware has seen a huge increase in Haitian students who speak Creole, are these accurate numbers?

Ironically, low-income numbers are going down in many schools.  The exceptions to this appear to be in Kent County.  Either Delaware families are rising out of low-income status or the Delaware DOE changed the formula on us again.

The “top” charters are showing huge increases in Asian students.

For the first time in the five years I’ve been writing about these reports, the number of special education students in charter schools decreased instead of going up.  Traditional school districts and vo-tech districts increase every year.

TOTAL ENROLLMENT DELAWARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2018: 139,146

2017: 138,371

2016: 137,217

2015: 136,027

2014: 134,932

DELAWARE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATIONS

2018: 22,474 (16.15%)

2017: 21,612 (15.6%)

2016: 20,696 (15.1%)

2015: 19,870 (14.6%)

2014: 18,168 (13.5%)

SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION BY TYPE OF SCHOOL

2018

Traditional School Districts: 20,242

Vo-Techs: 809

Charters: 1,423 

2017

Traditional School Districts: 19,367

Vo-Techs: 780

Charters: 1,465

2016

Traditional School Districts: 18,559

Vo-Techs: 774

Charters: 1,363

2015

Traditional School Districts: 17,818

Vo-Techs: 762

Charters: 1,290

2014

Districts: 16,399

Vo-Techs: 774

Charters: 995

TYPE OF SCHOOL TOTAL ENROLLMENT

2018: 139,146 Students

Traditional School Districts: 115,925 (83.3%)

Vo-Techs: 7,133 students (5.1%)

Charters: 16,088 students (11.6%)

 

2017: 138,371 students

Traditional School Districts: 115,337 (83.3%)

Vo-Techs: 7,152 (5.2%)

Charters: 15,882 (11.5%)

2016

Traditional School Districts: 114,951

Vo-Techs: 7,236

Charters: 15,302

2015

Traditional School Districts: 114,579

Vo-Techs: 7,336

Charters: 14,112

2014

Traditional School Districts: 115,045

Vo-Techs: 7,366

Charters: 12,521

OTHER SUB-GROUPS STATE OF DELAWARE AVERAGES

English Language Learners

2017: 9.3%

2016: 7.2%

2015: 6.4%

2014: 6.0%

Low-Income Students

2017: 35.1%

2016: 37.4%

2015: 36%

2014: 35%

African-American Students

2017: 30.4%

2016: 30.4%

2015: 30.7%

2014: 31.2%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 17.4%

2016: 16.8%

2015: 16%

2014: 15.3%

Asian Students:

2017: 3.8%

2016: 3.7%

2015: 3.7%

2014: 3.6%

TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

 

APPOQUINIMINK

Special Education Population

2018: 1,712 students, 15.1%

2017: 1,522 Students, 14%

2016: 13.1%

2015: 11.9%

2014: 11.1%

Student Count

2018: 11,317

2017: 10,882

2016: 10,644

2015: 10,378

2014: 9,870

English Language Learners

2017: 3%

2016: 2.5%

2015: 1.6%

2014: 1.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 14.2%

2016: 15.7%

2015: 14.7%

2014: 13.7%

African-American Students

2017: 25.8%

2016: 25.3%

2015: 25.1%

2014: 24.9%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.9%

2016: 7.5%

2015: 6.9%

2014: 6.1%

Asian Students

2017: 5.3%

2016: 5%

2015: 4.7%

2014: 4.6%

BRANDYWINE

Special Education Population

2018: 1,782 students, 17%

2017: 1,668 students, 15.9%

2016: 14.6%

2015: 14.4%

2014: 13.3%

Student Count

2018: 10,470

2017: 10,475

2016: 10,400

2015: 10,580

2014: 10,740

English Language Learners

2017: 5.5%

2016: 4.2%

2015: 4.1%

2014: 3.5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 31.7%

2016: 32.8%

2015: 31%

2014: 29.8%

African-American Students

2017: 37.9%

2016: 37.5%

2015: 37.4%

2014: 37.5%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 6.7%

2016: 6.5%

2015: 5.9%

2014: 5.6%

Asian Students

2017: 6.7%

2016: 6.3%

2015: 6.3%

2014: 6.0%

CAESAR RODNEY (incl. Dover AFB)

Special Education Population

2018: 1,311 students, 16.3%

2017: 1,276 students, 17.1%

2016: 16.1%

2015: 15.6%

2014: 14.7%

Student Count

2018: 8,020

2017: 7,443

2016: 7,323

2015: 7,221

2014: 7,249

English Language Learners

2017: 3.7%

2016: 2.6%

2015: 2%

2014: 2.2%

Low-Income Students

2017: 30.4%

2016: 31.9%

2015: 31.2%

2014: 30.9%

African-American Students

2017: 27.9%

2016: 28%

2015: 28.2%

2014: 29%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 9.1%

2016: 8.4%

2015: 7.6%

2014: 7.6%

Asian Students

2017: 3.5%

2016: 3.5%

2015: 3.6%

2014: 3.6%

CAPE HENLOPEN

Special Education Population

2018: 960 students, 17%

2017: 925 students, 17%

2016: 17.4%

2015: 17.3%

2014: 16.3%

Student Count

2018: 5,643

2017: 5,451

2016: 5,256

2015: 5,170

2014: 5,075

English Language Learners

2017: 7.6%

2016: 5.3%

2015: 4.3%

2014: 4.1%

Low-Income Students

2017: 30.7%

2016: 33.3%

2015: 32.8%

2014: 33.8%

African-American Students

2017: 12.4%

2016: 13%

2015: 13.7%

2014: 14.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 15.9%

2016: 15%

2015: 14.3%

2014: 13.9%

Asian Students

2017: 1.5%

2016: 1.5%

2015: 1.4%

2014: 1.7%

CAPITAL

Special Education Population

2018: 1,342 students, 20.6%

2017: 1,300 students, 20%

2016: 19.9%

2015: 18.9%

2014: 17.4%

Student Count

2018: 6,519

2017: 6,492

2016: 6,523

2015: 6,486

2014: 6,665

English Language Learners

2017: 6.7%

2016: 4.4%

2015: 4.2%

2014: 3.7%

Low-Income Students

2017: 51%

2016: 52%

2015: 51.5%

2014: 48.6%

African-American Students

2017: 50.5%

2016: 51.4%

2015: 51.4%

2014: 52.5%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 12.8%

2016: 11.9%

2015: 10.2%

2014: 9.4%

Asian Students

2017: 2.4%

2016: 2.6%

2015: 2.6%

2014: 2.7%

CHRISTINA

Special Education Population

2018: 3,136 students, 21.8%

2017: 3,071 students, 20.9%

2016: 20.2%

2015: 18.8%

2014: 17.9%

Student Count

2018: 14,408

2017: 14,689

2016: 15,076

2015: 15,553

2014: 16,255

English Language Learners

2017: 14.1%

2016: 10.5%

2015: 8.8%

2014: 8.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 45.1%

2016: 47.7%

2015: 43.8%

2014: 41%

African-American Students

2017: 39.3%

2016: 39.4%

2015: 39.6%

2014: 39.8%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 22.5%

2016: 21.9%

2015: 21.2%

2014: 20.4%

Asian Students

2017: 5.5%

2016: 5.1%

2015: 4.9%

2014: 4.4%

COLONIAL

Special Education Population

2018: 1,859 students, 18.8%

2017: 1,734 students, 17.65%

2016: 17%

2015: 16.4%

2014: 14.8%

Student Count

2018: 9,889

2017: 9,819

2016: 9,908

2015: 9,763

2014: 9,825

English Language Learners

2017: 11.5%

2016: 8.9%

2015: 8.8%

2014: 8.7%

Low-Income Students

2017: 42.1%

2016: 44.9%

2015: 41.9%

2014: 40%

African-American Students

2017: 44.3%

2016: 44%

2015: 43.1%

2014: 43.2%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 21.5%

2016: 20.6%

2015: 20.5%

2014: 20%

Asian Students

2017: 2.6%

2016: 2.8%

2015: 2.9%

2014: 2.9%

DELMAR

Special Education Population

2018: 134 students, 9.7%

2017: 126 students, 9.3%

2016: 9.7%

2015: 9.8%

2014: 9.1%

Student Count

2018: 1,373

2017: 1,348

2016: 1,307

2015: 1,347

2014: 1,367

English Language Learners

2017: 3.5%

2016: 2.1%

2015: 3.9%

2014: 5.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 15.5%

2016: 17.7%

2015: 16.9%

2014: 15.3%

African-American Students

2017: 14.2%

2016: 14.6%

2015: 14.2%

2014: 15.7%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 6.8%

2016: 6.4%

2015: 5.9%

2014: 4.6%

Asian Students

2017: 2.7%

2016: 3%

2015: 3.2%

2014: 2.9%

INDIAN RIVER

Special Education Population

2018: 1,808 students, 16.9%

2017: 1,806 students, 17%

2016: 17%

2015: 16.5%

2014: 16%

Student Count

2018: 10,697

2017: 10,619

2016: 10,465

2015: 10,171

2014: 9,842

English Language Learners

2017: 19.8%

2016: 15.5%

2015: 13.6%

2014: 11.7%

Low-Income Students

2017: 37.7%

2016: 41.8%

2015: 42.1%

2014: 41.7%

African-American Students

2017: 12.4%

2016: 12.5%

2015: 13.3%

2014: 13.9%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 32.6%

2016: 31.9%

2015: 30.4%

2014: 28.8%

Asian Students

2017: 1.1%

2016: 3.1%

2015: 1.3%

2014: 1.3%

LAKE FOREST

Special Education Population

2018: 686 students, 18.3%

2017: 647 students, 17%

2016: 15.8%

2015: 15.9%

2014: 14.9%

Student Count

2018: 3,746

2017: 3,804

2016: 3,766

2015: 3,794

2014: 3,812

English Language Learners

2017: 2.1%

2016: 1.8%

2015: 2%

2014: 1.6%

Low-Income Students

2017: 41.4%

2016: 43.2%

2015: 42.1%

2014: 42.2%

African-American Students

2017: 21.4%

2016: 19.6%

2015: 20.8%

2014: 21.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.7%

2016: 8.2%

2015: 7.5%

2014: 7.8%

Asian Students

2017: .7%

2016: .8%

2015: .8%

2014: .9%

LAUREL

Special Education Population

2018: 404 students, 16%

2017: 385 students, 15.7%

2016: 14.8%

2015: 15.5%,

2014: 15.0%

Student Count

2018: 2,521

2017: 2,449

2016: 2,362

2015: 2,221

2014: 2,177

English Language Learners

2017: 12.3%

2016: 8.8%

2015: 7%

2014: 5.6%

Low-Income Students

2017: 48.8%

2016: 53.8%

2015: 54.2%

2014: 53.4%

African-American Students

2017: 28%

2016: 29.4%

2015: 30.1%

2014: 30.2%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 14.6%

2016: 12.7%

2015: 11.5%

2014: 10.6%

Asian Students

2017: 1%

2016: .8%

2015: .9%

2014: 1%

MILFORD

Special Education Population

2018: 623 students, 14.7%

2017: 582 students, 14.1%

2016: 14.1%

2015: 14.1%

2014: 13.6%

Student Count

2018: 4,227

2017: 4,127

2016: 4,091

2015: 4,119

2014: 4,197

English Language Learners

2017: 14.6%

2016: 10.2%

2015: 9.1%

2014: 8.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 43.5%

2016: 47.2%

2015: 45%

2014: 43.9%

African-American Students

2017: 24.7%

2016: 24.7%

2015: 24.3%

2014: 24.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 19.7%

2016: 19.2%

2015: 19%

2014: 18.5%

Asian Students

2017: .6%

2016: .6%

2015: .9%

2014: .9%

RED CLAY CONSOLIDATED

Special Education Population

2018: 2,516 students, 16.3%

2017: 2,410 students, 15.3%

2016: 14.1%

2015: 13.5%

2014: 11.9%

Student Count

2018: 15,414

2017: 15,741

2016: 15,929

2015: 16,094

2014: 16,302

English Language Learners

2017: 14.9%

2016: 12.3%

2015: 10.8%

2014: 10.4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 35.5%

2016: 36.6%

2015: 35%

2014: 33.8%

African-American Students

2017: 20.7%

2016: 20.5%

2015: 21.2%

2014: 22.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 27%

2016: 26.4%

2015: 25.3%

2014: 24.4%

Asian Students

2017: 6.7%

2016: 6.6%

2015: 6.7%

2014: 6.4%

SEAFORD

Special Education Population

2018: 601 students, 17.3%

2017: 607 students, 17.5%

2016: 17.5%

2015: 17.2%

2014: 17.1%

Student Count

2018: 3,464

2017: 3,475

2016: 3,501

2015: 3,473

2014: 3,509

English Language Learners

2017: 18.6%

2016: 13.7%

2015: 11.9%

2014: 10.7%

Low-Income Students

2017: 50.3%

2016: 54.5%

2015: 54.5%

2014: 53.4%

African-American Students

2017: 37.2%

2016: 36.4%

2015: 35.8%

2014: 36.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 20.4%

2016: 19.4%

2015: 17.1%

2014: 16.1%

Asian Students

2017: 1.1%

2016: 1.1%

2015: 1.3%

2014: 1.3%

SMYRNA

Special Education Population

2018: 969 students, 17%

2017: 899 students, 16.4%

2016: 16.2%

2015: 15.3%

2014: 14.4%

Student Count

2018: 5,691

2017: 5,486

2016: 5,382

2015: 5,233

2014: 5,279

English Language Learners

2017: 2%

2016: 1.2%

2015: 1.2%

2014: 1.2%

Low-Income Students

2017: 27.1%

2016: 28.5%

2015: 25.9%

2014: 27.3%

African-American Students

2017: 27.4%

2016: 26.2%

2015: 26.8%

2014: 27.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.9%

2016: 7.9%

2015: 7.7%

2014: 7%

Asian Students

2017: 1.4%

2016: 1.4%

2015: 1.5%

2014: 1.5%

WOODBRIDGE

Special Education Population

2018: 417 students, 16.5%

2017: 409 students, 16.1%

2016: 13.5%

2015: 12.5%

2014: 12.5%

Student Count

2018: 2,526

2017: 2,537

2016: 2,507

2015: 2,466

2014: 2,384

English Language Learners

2017: 11.8%

2016: 9.1%

2015: 8.2%

2014: 8.5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 45.4%

2016: 49.3%

2015: 49.6%

2014: 49.6%

African-American Students

2017: 25.2%

2016: 25.9%

2015: 27%

2014: 27.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 22.3%

2016: 22.4%

2015: 20.8%

2014: 19.9%

Asian Students

2017: .7%

2016: .6%

2015: .8%

2014: .9%

VO-TECH SCHOOLS

 

NEW CASTLE COUNTY VO-TECH

Special Education Population

2018: 600 students, 12.8%

2017: 586 students, 12.4%

2016: 12.2%

2015: 8.4%

2016: 9.1%

Student Count

2018: 4,694

2017: 4,716

2016: 4,692

2015: 4,698

2014: 4,629

English Language Learners

2017: 2.3%

2016: 1.9%

2015: 3%

2014: 3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 29%

2016: 30%

2015: 28%

2014: 26.9%

African-American Students

2017: 41.8%

2016: 42.2%

2015: 42.8%

2014: 42.8%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 23.1%

2016: 21.2%

2015: 19.3%

2014: 16.9%

Asian Students

2017: 1.4%

2016: 1.2%

2015: 1.1%

2014: 1.2%

POLYTECH

Special Education Population

2018: 111 students, 9.3%

2017: 98 students, 8.2%

2016: 8.5%

2015: 8.4%

2014: 9.1%

Student Count

2018: 1,199

2017: 1,188

2016: 1,200

2015: 1,194

2014: 1,192

English Language Learners

2017: 0%

2016: .1%

2015: .3%

2014: .3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 18.2%

2016: 18.8%

2015: 18.8%

2014: 15.7%

African-American Students

2017: 20.8%

2016: 21.6%

2015: 19.9%

2014: 18.7%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 8.5%

2016: 7.9%

2015: 7.4%

2014: 6%

Asian Students

2017: 1.7%

2016: 2.3%

2015: 1.8%

2014: 1.3%

SUSSEX TECH

Special Education Population

2018: 98 students, 7.9%

2017: 96 students, 7.7%

2016: 7.5%

2015: 6.9%

2014: 6.9%

Student Count

2018: 1,240

2017: 1,248

2016: 1,344

2015: 1,444

2014: 1,545

English Language Learners

2017: .2%

2016: .1%

2015: .4%

2014: .5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 18.4%

2016: 18.5%

2015: 19%

2014: 19.6%

African-American Students

2017: 13.1%

2016: 12.9%

2015: 13.9%

2014: 17.9%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 13.2%

2016: 12.3%

2015: 11.8%

2014: 12.4%

Asian Students

2017: 2.1%

2016: 1.8%

2015: 1.9%

2014: 1.8%

CHARTER SCHOOLS

ACADEMIA ANTONIA ALONSO (K-4)

Special Education Population

2018: 33 students, 5.4%

2017: 30 students, 6.1%

*2016: 3.4%

*2015: 2.2%

*2014: .9%

*was K-1 in 2014, K-2 in 2015, and K-3 in 2016, K-4 in 2017 and K-5 in 2018

Student Count

2018: 603

2017: 494

2016: 415

2015: 320

2014: 221

English Language Learners

2017: 53.4%

2016: 31.1%

2015: 24.7%

2014: 14%

Low-Income Students

2017: 60.7%

2016: 67.2%

2015: 73.1%

2014: 70.1%

African-American Students

2017: 24.3%

2016: 29.9%

2015: 41.3%

2014: 43.9%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 69.6%

2016: 64.8%

2015: 52.2%

2014: 51.6%

Asian Students

2017: 0%

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: .9%

ACADEMY OF DOVER (K-5)

Special Education Population

2018: 16 students, 5.9%

2017: 18 students, 6.6%

2016: 6.1%

2015: 9.5%

2014: 11.7%

Student Count

2018: 272

2017: 270

2016: 247

2015: 284

2014: 290

English Language Learners

2017: 11.5%

2016: 6.1%

2015: 1.8%

2014: 1.4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 69.6%

2016: 68%

2015: 65.8%

2014: 64.8%

African-American Students

2017: 73%

2016: 73.3%

2015: 78.2%

2014: 81%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 13.3%

2016: 12.6%

2015: 11.3%

2014: 9%

Asian Students

2017: 0%

2016: .4%

2015: .7%

2014: .7%

CAMPUS COMMUNITY SCHOOL (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 37 students, 9.1%

2017: 38 students, 9.1%

2016: 9%

2015: 6.7%

2014: 8.3%

Student Count

2018: 408

2017: 417

2016: 413

2015: 417

2014: 410

English Language Learners

2017: 1.7%

2016: 1%

2015: .5%

2014: 1.5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 42.4%

2016: 42.1%

2015: 46%

2014: 38.3%

African-American Students

2017: 54.9%

2016: 51.8%

2015: 50.1%

2014: 46.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 8.9%

2016: 10.7%

2015: 10.3%

2014: 8.8%

Asian Students

2017: 1.7%

2016: 2.2%

2015: 1.9%

2014: 2.2%

CHARTER SCHOOL OF NEW CASTLE (was formerly Family Foundations Academy prior to this year)

Special Education Population

2018: 64 students, 8.4%

2017: 68 students, 9%

2016: 8%

2015: 8.6%

2014: 5.3%

Student Count

2018: 763

2017: 751

2016: 759

2015: 792

2016: 811

English Language Learners

2017: 2.9%

2016: 2.5%

2015: 2.5%

2014: 1.8%

Low-Income Students

2017: 54.2%

2016: 56.7%

2015: 51%

2014: 44.4%

African-American Students

2017: 81.2%

2016: 81.7%

2015: 79.8%

2014: 79.9%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 10.8%

2016: 9.7%

2015: 9.7%

2014: 12.5%

Asian Students

2017: 1.1%

2016: 1.3%

2015: 1.5%

2014: 1.5%

CHARTER SCHOOL OF WILMINGTON (9-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 8 students, .8%

2017: 9 students, .9%

2016: .8%

2015: .5%

2014: .2%

Student Count

2018: 972

2017: 971

2016: 971

2015: 972

2014: 972

English Language Learners

2017: 0%

2016: .2%

2015: .2%

2014: .1%

Low-Income Students

2017: 4.7%

2016: 4.5%

2015: 3.7%

2014: 2.3%

African-American Students

2017: 7.3%

2016: 6.3%

2015: 6.8%

2014: 6%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 4.7%

2016: 4%

2015: 3.5%

2014: 3.3%

Asian Students

2017: 33.7%

2016: 30.9%

2015: 28.7%

2014: 26.4%

DELAWARE ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY (9-12)

*DAPSS shut down before the September 30th count in 2018, students enrolled in other districts and charter schools

Special Education Population

2018: 0 students

2017: 69 students, 30.2%

2016: 25.2%

2015: 19.5%

2014: 16.5%

Student Count

2017: 228

*2016: 270

2015: 303

2014: 363

*major modification to decrease 22%, currently under 80% of modified enrollment of 375 at 76%

English Language Learners

2017: 3.1%

2016: 2.6%

2015: 3.6%

2014: 3.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 43%

2016: 37.4%

2015: 32.3%

2014: 27%

African-American Students

2017: 48.7%

2016: 38.5%

2015: 30.7%

2014: 29.8%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 17.5%

2016: 17.4%

2015: 17.5%

2014: 14.9%

Asian Students

2017: .9%

2016: .7%

2015: 1.3%

2014: 3.3%

DESIGN THINKING ACADEMY (formerly DELAWARE DESIGN-LAB HIGH SCHOOL) (9-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 55 students, 18.2%

2017: 61 students, 20.5%

2016: 25%

2015: 20.6%

Student Count

2018: 302

2017: 298

*2016: 272

2015: 233

*major modification to decrease total enrollment by 15% over next five years, 9-10 in 2015-2016, 9-11 in 2016-2017

English Language Learners

2017: 3%

2016: 2.2%

2015: 1.7%

Low-Income Students

2017: 34.6%

2016: 39%

2015: 38.2%

African-American Students

2017: 44.3%

2016: 48.9%

2015: 49.4%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 9.7%

2016: 11.8%

2015: 12.9%

Asian Students

2017: 2.3%

2016: 2.2%

2015: 4.3%

DELAWARE MILITARY ACADEMY (9-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 16 students, 2.8%

2017: 13 students, 2.2%

2016: 3.4%

2015: 3.9%

2014: 3%

Student Count

2018: 581

2017: 582

2016: 584

2015: 564

2014: 569

English Language Learners

2017: .2%

2016: .2%

2015: .2%

2014: .2%

Low-Income Students

2017: 7.6%

2016: 8.4%

2015: 6.7%

2014: 6.9%

African-American Students

2017: 5.5%

2016: 5.8%

2015: 5.5%

2014: 5.6%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 9.6%

2016: 7.9%

2015: 7.4%

2014: 7%

Asian Students

2017: 1.9%

2016: 1.4%

2015: 1.4%

2014: 1.9%

EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 35 students, 8.9%

2017: 33 students, 7.9%

2016: 5.9%

2015: 10.5%

2014: 2.3%

Student Count

2018: 393

*2017: 420

*2016: 289

*2015: 209

*2014: 129

*was 9th grade in 2014-2015, 9-10 in 2015-2016, 9-11 in 2016-2017, 9-12 in 2017-2018

English Language Learners

2017: .5%

2016: .7%

2015: 1%

2014: .8%

Low-Income Students

2017: 34.5%

2016: 32.9%

2015: 33%

2014: 34.1%

African-American Students

2017: 78.1%

2016: 74%

2015: 74.2%

2014: 58.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.1%

2016: 8%

2015: 6.7%

2014: 10.9%

Asian Students

2017: .5%

2016: 1%

2015: 1%

2014: 2.3%

EASTSIDE CHARTER SCHOOL (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 64 students, 15.2%

2017: 60 students, 14.5%

2016: 12.8%

2015: 12.9%

2014: 14.8%

Student Count

2018: 422

2017: 415

2016: 446

2015: 443

2014: 418

English Language Learners

2017: .2%

2016: 1.6%

2015: 3.4%

2014: 4.1%

Low-Income Students

2017: 79.8%

2016: 83.4%

2015: 80.1%

2014: 77.3%

African-American Students

2017: 94.5%

2016: 91.3%

2015: 88.5%

2014: 87.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 5.3%

2016: 8.5%

2015: 11.3%

2014: 11.7%

Asian Students

2017: 0%

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: 0%

FIRST STATE MILITARY ACADEMY (9-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 63 students, 14.4%

2017: 61 students, 14.9%

2016: 18.1%

2015: 19.3%

Student Count

2018: 436

*2017: 409

*2016: 288

*2015: 202

*was 9-10 in 2015-2016, 9-11 in 2016-2017, 9-12 in 2017-2018

English Language Learners

2017: 1.5%

2016: 1.7%

2015: .5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 28.1%

2016: 29.5%

2015: 35.6%

African-American Students

2017: 25.9%

2016: 22.9%

2015: 24.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 15.2%

2016: 14.2%

2015: 9.4%

Asian Students

2017: 2.2%

2016: 2.8%

2015: 1%

FIRST STATE MONTESSORI ACADEMY (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 49 students, 8.8%

2017: 54 students, 10.6%

2016: 8.4%

2015: 7.4%

2014: 5.4%

Student Count

2018: 560

2017: 509

*2016: 428

*2015: 325

*2014: 280

* major modification to increase 15%, added 7-8, was K-6 in 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017, K-7 in 2017-2018, and K-8 in 2018-2019

English Language Learners

2017: 3.1%

2016: 3%

2015: 1.2%

2014: 1.8%

Low-Income Students

2017: 12%

2016: 12.6%

2015: 8.3%

2014: 10%

African-American Students

2017: 16.7%

2016: 16.6%

2015: 18.8%

2014: 22.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 3.7%

2016: 4.7%

2015: 6.5%

2014: 8.6%

Asian Students

2017: 4.7%

2016: 5.1%

2015: 7.1%

2014: 6.1%

FREIRE CHARTER SCHOOL (8-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 74 students, 15.4%

2017: 78 students, 19%

2016: 16.2%

2015: 6.4%

Student Count

*2018: 479

*2017: 411

*2016: 322

*2015: 234

*was 8-9 in 2015-2016, 8-10 in 2016-2017, 8-11 in 2017-2018, 8-12 in 2018-2019

English Language Learners

2017: 2.4%

2016: 2.2%

2015: 3.4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 51.6%

2016: 54.7%

2015: 45.3%

African-American Students

2017: 72%

2016: 71.4%

2015: 64.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 13.9%

2016: 7.1%

2015: 13.7%

Asian Students

2017: 1.9%

2016: 3.1%

2015: 3.8%

GATEWAY LAB SCHOOL (3-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 96 students, 55.8%

2017: 108 students, 57.1%

2016: 55.2%

2015: 60.8%

2014: 59.9%

Student Count

2018: 172

2017: 189

2016: 221

2015: 212

2014: 212

English Language Learners

2017: 1.6%

2016: 1.4%

2015: .9%

2014: .9%

Low-Income Students

2017: 42.9%

2016: 38.5%

2015: 31.1%

2014: 20.8%

African-American Students

2017: 48.7%

2016: 38.9%

2015: 29.7%

2014: 23.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.9%

2016: 8.6%

2015: 7.5%

2014: 8%

Asian Students

2017: 2.1%

2016: 1.4%

2015: 1.4%

2014: 2.4%

 

GREAT OAKS CHARTER SCHOOL (6-7)

Special Education Population

2018: 98 students, 22.2%

2017: 88 students, 19.6%

2016: 18.4%

2015: 16%

Student Count

2018: 441

*2017: 448

*2016: 343

*2015: 212

*minor modification approved for 8% increase, was 6th grade in 2015-2016, 6-7 in 2016-2017, 6-8 in 2017-2018

English Language Learners

2017: 4.5%

2016: 2.9%

2015: 3.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 58.5%

2016: 58.9%

2015: 54.7%

African-American Students

2017: 73.9%

2016: 72.9%

2015: 75%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 19.9%

2016: 17.5%

2015: 14.6%

Asian Students

2017: .7%

2016: 1.2%

2015: .5%

KUUMBA ACADEMY (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 76 students, 11.5%

2017: 75 students, 10.4%

2016: 11.3%

2015: 10.5%

2014: 6.3%

Student Count

2018: 661

2017: 719

*2016: 744

2015: 644

*2014: 464

*minor modification to increase by 14.9%, was K-7 in 2-14-2015, K-8 in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017

English Language Learners

2017: .7%

2016: .9%

2015: .8%

2014: .9%

Low-Income Students

2017: 65.4%

2016: 65.3%

2015: 61%

2014: 58%

African-American Students

2017: 91.2%

2016: 91.1%

2015: 92.5%

2014: 91.6%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 6.7%

2016: 7.3%

2015: 6.7%

2014: 6.9%

Asian Students

2017: .1%

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: .4%

LAS AMERICAS ASPIRAS ACADEMY (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 75 students, 9.6%

2017: 64 students, 8.6%

2016: 8.7%

2015: 8.5%

2014: 5.7%

Student Count

2018: 785

2017: 740

2016: 698

2015: 639

2014: 541

English Language Learners

2017: 34.5%

2016: 27.5%

2015: 26%

2014: 30.3%

Low-Income Students

2017: 27.7%

2016: 27.1%

2015: 28.3%

2014: 25%

African-American Students

2017: 13.1%

2016: 15.3%

2015: 13.9%

2014: 15%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 60.3%

2016: 57.7%

2015: 56.7%

2014: 57.3%

Asian Students

2017: 1.5%

2016: 2.1%

2015: 2%

2014: 2.8%

 

MOT CHARTER SCHOOL (K-11)

Special Education Population

2018: 76 students, 5.8%

2017: 71 students, 5.5%

2016: 6%

2015: 6.8%

2014: 6.1%

Student Count

2018: 1,314

*2017: 1,288

*2016: 1,159

*2015: 1,013

*2014: 869

*was K-9 in 2014-2015, K-10 in 2015-2016, K-11 in 2016-2017, K-12 in 2017-2018

English Language Learners

2017: 1.2.%

2016: 1.6%

2015: 1.7%

2014: 1.6%

Low-Income Students

2017: 6.3%

2016: 5.4%

2015: 5.9%

2014: 5.9%

African-American Students

2017: 22.8%

2016: 23.2%

2015: 20.3%

2014: 18.4%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 7.1%

2016: 6.1%

2015: 7.1%

2014: 7.2%

Asian Students

2017: 11.6%

2016: 10.1%

2015: 9.6%

2014: 9.2%

NEWARK CHARTER SCHOOL (K-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 168 students, 7%

2017: 166 students, 7.1%

2016: 6.9%

2015: 6.4%

2014: 5.6%

Student Count

2018: 2,386

2017: 2,354

*2016: 2,322

*2015: 2,140

*2014: 1,948

*was K-10 in 2014-2015, K-11 in 2015-2016, K-12 in 2016-2017

English Language Learners

2017: 4.2%

2016: 3.1%

2015: 2.4%

2014: 2.5%

Low-Income Students

2017: 8.4%

2016: 9.2%

2015: 7.9%

2014: 7.2%

African-American Students

2017: 11.1%

2016: 10.7%

2015: 11.1%

2014: 11.4%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 5.1%

2016: 5.2%

2015: 5%

2014: 4.4%

Asian Students

2017: 13.5%

2016: 13.1%

2015: 13%

2014: 12.9%

ODYSSEY CHARTER SCHOOL (K-11)

Special Education Population

2018: 118 students, 6.5%

2017: 91 students, 4.6%

2016: 5.5%

2015: 4.9%

2014: 4.4%

Student Count

2018: 1,803

2017: 1,662

*2016: 1,440

*2015: 1,140

*2014: 933

*minor modification to increase by 14.92% for 2016-2017, was K-7 in 2014-2015, K-8 in 2015-2016, K-9 in 2016-2017, K-10 in 2017-2018, K-11 in 2018-2019

English Language Learners

2017: 3.5%

2016: 1.5%

2015: .3%

2014: .4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 15.4%

2016: 17.9%

2015: 17.4%

2014: 17.9%

African-American Students

2017: 22.1%

2016: 22.4%

2015: 22.1%

2014: 22.1%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 5.7%

2016: 6%

2015: 5.9%

2014: 6%

Asian Students

2017: 13.1%

2016: 10.6%

2015: 8.1%

2014: 7.1%

POSITIVE OUTCOMES (7-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 80 students, 67%

2017: 87 students, 69%

2016: 66.4%

2015: 62.7%

2014: 65.9%

Student Count

2018: 120

2017: 126

2016: 125

2015: 126

2014: 126

English Language Learners

2017: 0%

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: 0%

Low-Income Students

2017: 32.5%

2016: 33.6%

2015: 27.8%

2014: 31.7%

African-American Students

2017: 32.5%

2016: 30.4%

2015: 23%

2014: 23.8%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 5.6%

2016: 6.4%

2015: 4%

2014: 4%

Asian Students

2017: 5.6%

2016: 1.6%

2015: .8%

2014: .8%

PRESTIGE ACADEMY (6-8) (closed at end of 2016-2017 school year)

Special Education Population

2016: 19.6%

2015: 27.2%

2014: 22%

Student Count

*2016: 143

*2015: 224

2014: 246

*major modification to drop 5th grade in 2016-2017 school year, was 5-8 in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, 6-8 in 2016-2017

English Language Learners

2016: 2.1%

2015: 2.2%

2014: 1.2%

Low-Income Students

2016: 73.4%

2015: 64.3%

2014: 58.1%

African-American Students

2016: 90.2%

2015: 90.2%

2014: 94.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2016: 7.7%

2015: 8%

2014: 2%

Asian Students

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: 0%

PROVIDENCE CREEK ACADEMY (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 43 students, 6.2%

2017: 36 students, 5.2%

2016: 4.7%

2015: 5.1%

2014: 5.1%

Student Count

2018: 690

2017: 690

2016: 700

2015: 690

2014: 688

English Language Learners

2017: .9%

2016: .6%

2015: 0%

2014: .6%

Low-Income Students

2017: 20.6%

2016: 21.9%

2015: 19.4%

2014: 18.3%

African-American Students

2017: 26.5%

2016: 27.1%

2015: 27.1%

2014: 27.3%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 4.9%

2016: 5.3%

2015: 4.5%

2014: 4.1%

Asian Students

2017: 2.3%

2016: 2.4%

2015: 2.3%

2014: 1.9%

SUSSEX ACADEMY (6-12)

Special Education Population

2018: 29 students, 3.6%

2017: 36 students, 4.7%

2016: 4.1%

2015: 4.9%

2014: 3.6%

Student Count

2018: 795

2017: 759

*2016: 692

*2015: 594

*2014: 498

*was 6-10 in 2014-2015, 6-11 in 2015-2016, 6-12 in 2016-2017

English Language Learners

2017: 1.2%

2016: .7%

2015: .7%

2014: .4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 9.4%

2016: 11.4%

2015: 10.4%

2014: 7.8%

African-American Students

2017: 4.9%

2016: 3.9%

2015: 5.2%

2014: 3.2%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 14.4%

2016: 12.7%

2015: 8.6%

2014: 9.6%

Asian Students

2017: 5%

2016: 3.9%

2015: 3.4%

2014: 4%

THOMAS EDISON CHARTER SCHOOL (K-8)

Special Education Population

2018: 50 students, 6.9%

2017: 51 students, 7%

2016: 6.6%

2015: 7%

2014: 7.1%

Student Count

2018: 730

2017: 732

2016: 739

2015: 758

2014: 745

English Language Learners

2017: .5%

2016: .5%

2015: .3%

2014: .4%

Low-Income Students

2017: 77.2%

2016: 79.4%

2015: 78.6%

2014: 76.2%

African-American Students

2017: 97.8%

2016: 97.6%

2015: 97.9%

2014: 97.2%

Hispanic/Latino Students

2017: 1.1%

2016: 1.5%

2015: 1.2%

2014: 1.6%

Asian Students

2017: 0%

2016: 0%

2015: 0%

2014: 0%

Note: In 2014-2015, the following charter schools closed at the end of the year: Moyer & Reach Academy for Girls.  In 2015-2016, the following charter schools closed at the end of the year: Delaware College Prep and Delaware Met (which closed mid-year). In 2016-2017, Prestige Academy closed at the end of the year.  Delaware Academy of Public Safety unexpectedly shut down shortly into the 2018-2019 school year due to low enrollment and financial insolvency.

To read the 2018 enrollment report, just go below:

3 thoughts on “Special Report: Red Flags In Delaware Student Enrollment Trends & The Increase In Special Education”

  2. Thank you for posting. Somewhat quick comment on an issue that is much more complex; however, if you simply look at demographics including poverty %, special ed %, ELL %, a reasonable person can predict test scores, college acceptance, discipline referrals and student success without looking at anything else at that school. Regardless of myriad programs, flavor of the year strategies, $ on outside consultants, or argument about teacher effectiveness, the schools with lower poverty, special ed, ELL rates, students of families who are very involved in children’s education and academically self-motivated students, will perform better on tests and have higher % of college bound students. That is not to say these higher needs schools should not be attempting unique approaches to working in these schools and helping students every day to grow, learn and gain self confidence to be successful, but expecting and criticizing teachers for not equalling the pubic, charter or even private school academic performance shows a lack of understanding of school system, high need students and reality. Teachers, Admin. and Community at high needs schools are making a difference, but not on as big on a macro level, as the other schools. Unfortunately, we cannot have honest conversations about the disparity (without pointing fingers and name calling) so the problems will persist and parents will continue to pull kids and move them to charter or magnet schools that target these students and continue the vicious cycle of education disparity. Simply look at the demographics of higher performing schools. Not realistic, but how would overall public school scores look and compare to other states if all charter and magnet school students were back in traditional feeder pattern public schools… Of course many would attend private. Food for thought.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.