OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
School Enrollment Nearly 1,900 residents ages 3 and over in the study area were enrolled in educational programs ranging from nursery and preschool to college and graduate school in 2017 (see Figure 21). This represents only 15% of the 12,603 total residents in the area. Far higher shares of the population are enrolled in school across the city (28.4%), county (27.5%), metropolitan area (28.4%), and state (26.8%). The key factor underlying the low share of residents enrolled in school is the low share of residents of traditional school age. Low Share of School-Aged Children . The low overall enrollment status of residents in the study area is mostly explained by a low share of children in the traditional school years from kindergarten through grade 12. Only 7.8% of residents in the study area are in their traditional school years versus 18-19% of residents at the county, state, and metro area levels. The introduction of John W. Rex Elementary School through MAPS for Kids begins to address the relative lack of public education opportunities for families who choose to live downtown. The 1.2% share of residents enrolled in preschool also falls below city, county, and state shares of approximately 1.8%. The 6.8% share of study area residents enrolled in college or graduate school is only slightly below the county average of 7.0% but just above the city average of 6.7%. Changing Enrollment Mix . In 2017, approximately 44% of school enrollment was in middle school or lower (836 persons), 13% in high school, and the remaining 43% in college or graduate school (811 persons). Shifts in school enrollment are also following the general acceleration in downtown population since 2010. Total school enrollment in 2017 is down by about 100 from a high of approximately 2,000 students in 2000 but has rebounded by almost 225 students since 2010. Shifts have also taken place in the composition of downtown residents enrolled in education. Declines in enrollment between 2000 and 2010 occurred in the three middle education categories encompassing K- 12 education (496 persons). Conversely, enrollment increased at the extremes of the enrollment range. Nursery and preschool enrollment increased by 61 persons while college enrollment climbed by 105. Figure 21. School Enrollment Persons 3 Years and Over - Study Area Census Tracts
Percent Change 2000-10
Percent Change 2010-17
Change 2000-10
Change 2010-17
School Enrollment
2000 2010 2017
Nursery school, preschool
89
150
140
61
-10
68.5%
-6.7% 0.0% 31.9% 12.1%
Kindergarten
126 710 420 649
76
76
-50
0 -39.7%
Elementary and middle school (grades 1-8)
470 214 754
620 240 811
-240 -206
150 -33.8% 26 -49.0%
High school (grades 9-12) College or graduate school Total Enrolled Ages 3+
105
57
16.2%
7.6%
1,994 1,664 1,887
-330
223 -16.5%
13.4%
Source: Census Bureau American Community Survey (5-year estimates)
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