Changes in the 100 Largest School Districts Between 1997 and 2007

While there has been considerable change in rank by size within the 100 largest school districts over time, the lists of school districts in 1997–98 and 2007–08 are similar. Only 16 of the 100 largest school districts in 1997–98 were not among the 100 largest school districts in 2007–08 (see table D-4 for a list of the 100 largest school districts in 1997–98).14

Between 1997–98 and 2007–08, the number of students in the 100 largest school districts increased by 4 percent, and the number of FTE teachers increased by 21 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 1997–98 and 22 percent in 2007–08.

14 When comparing the 100 largest school districts in 1997–98 to those in 2007–08, note that some of the districts changed their name during this period. The 16 public school districts that were among the 100 largest in 1997–98 but not in 2007–08 include Oakland Unified, California; Escambia County School District, Florida; Wichita, Kansas; Caddo Parish School Board, Louisiana; East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, Louisiana; Jefferson Parish School Board, Louisiana; Orleans Parish School Board, Louisiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis City, Missouri; 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.