Changes in the 100 Largest School Districts Between 1998 and 2008

While there has been considerable change in rank by size within the 100 largest school districts over time, the lists of school districts in 1998–99 and 2008–09 are similar. Only 20 of the 100 largest school districts in 1998–99 were not among the 100 largest school districts in 2008–09 (see table D-4 for a list of the 100 largest school districts in 1998–99).¹⁵

Between 1998–99 and 2008–09, the number of students in the 100 largest school districts increased by 3 percent, and the number of FTE teaching positions increased by 20 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 1998–99 and 22 percent in 2008–09.