Changes in the 100 Largest School Districts Between 1996 and 2006
While there has been considerable change in rank by size within the 100 largest school districts over time, the lists of school districts in 1996–97 and 2006–07 are similar. Only 17 of the 100 largest school districts in 1996–97 were not among the 100 largest school districts in 2006–07 (see table D-4 for a list of the 100 largest school districts in 1996–97).13
Between 1996–97 and 2006–07, the number of students in the 100 largest school districts increased by 5 percent, and the number of FTE teachers increased by 24 percent (table 4). However, while the numbers of students and teachers increased between these years, the proportion of the total for the United States and jurisdictions these numbers represent was essentially unchanged. For example, the 100 largest school districts included 23 percent of all students in 1996–97 and 22 percent in 2006–07.
13 When comparing the 100 largest school districts in 1996–97 to those in 2006–07, note that some of the districts changed their name during this period. The 17 public school districts that were among the 100 largest in 1996–97 but not in 2006–07 include Oakland Unified, California; Escambia County School District, Florida; Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana; Wichita, Kansas; Caddo Parish School Board, Louisiana; Jefferson Parish School Board, Louisiana; Orleans Parish School Board, Louisiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis City, Missouri; Omaha Public Schools, Nebraska; Buffalo City School District, New York; Cincinnati City School District, Ohio; Portland School District 1J, Oregon; Shelby County School District, Tennessee; Ysleta Independent School District, Texas; and Seattle, Washington.