MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL DISTRICT FORECASTS AN INCREASE OF 7,640 STUDENTS NEXT YEAR February 19, 2002 Miami-Dade public schools are expected to gain 7,640 students next year, enough to fill seven new elementary schools. The most recent kindergarten through 12th-grade enrollment totals 335,696. Enrollment next year is anticipated to reach 343,336, according to staff projections. The annual projection is used by the state to estimate the district's share of revenue from the Florida Education Finance Program. An increase of that many students means millions of dollars more for the district's operating expenses, but only partially provides for the cost of additional schools or expansion of existing ones. The enrollment gain would aggravate the school district's already severe shortfall of space to house students. "Even counting the number of students in portable classrooms, our schools are already short nearly 23,000 student stations," said Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Merrett R. Stierheim. "Our community needs to work together to address this crisis, which will only get worse as enrollment grows." ### 02-AMC0186BD Back to News Releases