How Many Seats Are There for the Student Population?
Student Population
Students who reside in the region, including those who attend school out of the region
Students who reside in the region, including those who attend school out of the region.
Since 2022-2023, the number of students living in the South Side region has increased by 200 students (0.7%). Within that, the K-8 population has increased by 52 students (0.3%), while the 9-12 population has increased by 169 students (2.0%).
In comparison, the overall district population has decreased by 1.8% during the same period. The K-8 population has decreased by 1.4% and the 9-12 population has decreased by 3.4%.
Students Residing in Region Over Time
Students Residing in Region Over Time
NOTE: Enrollment data is from the annual 20th-day count (September 15, 2025).
Student Enrollment
Students who attend school in the region, including those who reside out of the region
Since 2022-2023, the number of students enrolling in the South Side region has decreased by 40 students (0.2%). Within that, K-8 enrollment has increased by 40 students (0.2%), while 9-12 enrollment has decreased by 26 students (0.4%). Within the region, enrollment has decreased at a rate less than the overall district student population decrease (1.8%).
In comparison, there have been fewer students enrolling in the region than living in the region. This indicates that some students are choosing to enroll in other school options outside of the South Side region.
Students Attending in Region Over Time
Students Attending in Region Over Time
Seats and Enrollment
There are 15,985 more seats than students enrolled in the region, including 12,030 elementary school seats and 3,955 high school seats.
Number of Seats vs. Enrollment in Elementary and High School Buildings
Number of Seats vs. Enrollment in Elementary and High School Buildings
NOTE: Enrollment and seats figures listed here do not include Pre-K and Cluster students. The number of seats is the adjusted ideal capacity of the school building or the charter contract enrollment cap. Elementary grade students enrolled in combination K-12 schools are grouped into the high school category.
How Many Pre-Kindergarten Seats Are There for the Student Population?
Total Pre-K Seats and Enrollment
In the South Side region, there are 1,690 Pre-K seats, 74% of which are in full-day programs and 26% in half-day programs.
Full- and Half-Day Pre-K Seats in Region
Full- and Half-Day Pre-K Seats in Region
In the South Side region, there were 1,164 students enrolled in Pre-K as of the 20th day of school (September 15, 2025), 78% of which were in a full-day program. 72% of Pre-K students were 4-year-olds, while 27% were 3-year-olds. Pre-K students continue to enroll over the course of the school year.
3- and 4-Year-Old Pre-K Enrollment in Region
3- and 4-Year-Old Pre-K Enrollment in Region
There were 526 unfilled Pre-K seats in the South Side region as of the 20th day of school (September 15, 2025), 330 of which were full-day seats. The full-day programs were 74% filled while the half-day programs were 56% filled. Pre-K enrollment continues to occur over the course of the school year.
Full- and Half-Day Pre-K Enrollment vs. Seats in Region
Full- and Half-Day Pre-K Enrollment vs. Seats in Region
NOTE: Pre-K enrollment totals are from the 20th day of school in 2025-26 and include all students aged 3 or 4. Some totals exclude students who were enrolled in Pre-K but not scheduled to a half-day or full-day classroom on the 20th day (September 15, 2025).
Full-Day Pre-K Seats and Enrollment
In the South Side region, there has been a decrease of 150 full-day seats over the past four years, a 10.7% decrease. This number has increased by 10 seats since last school year.
Full-Day Pre-K Seats in Region Over Time
Full-Day Pre-K Seats in Region Over Time
NOTE: Pre-K enrollment totals are from the 20th day of school in 2025-26 and include all students aged 3 or 4. Some totals exclude students who were enrolled in Pre-K but not scheduled to a half-day or full-day classroom on the 20th day (September 15, 2025).
4-Year-Old Enrollment Over Time
In 2025-26, there was a 7.5% decrease in enrollment (63 students) of 4-year-olds in full-day Pre-K programs in the South Side region. Over the past four years, there has been a 8.4% decrease in enrollment (71 students) of 4-year-olds.
4-Year-Old Pre-K Enrollment in Region Over Time
4-Year-Old Pre-K Enrollment in Region Over Time
NOTE: Pre-K enrollment totals are from the 20th day of school in 2025-26 and include all students aged 3 or 4. Some totals exclude students who were enrolled in Pre-K but not scheduled to a half-day or full-day classroom on the 20th day (September 15, 2025).
Pre-K Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity
The proportion of Pre-K students identifying as Black is 76% compared to 76% of Kindergarten students, while the proportion of Pre-K students identifying as Latinx is 19% compared to 18% of Kindergarten students. For most regions, the racial/ethnic identities of students are similar in both Pre-K and Kindergarten. In some cases, the proportion of each racial/ethnic group may change when comparing Pre-K to Kindergarten.
Pre-K and Kindergarten Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity
Pre-K and Kindergarten Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity
NNOTE: Pre-K enrollment totals are from the 20th day of school in 2025-26 and include all students aged 3 or 4. Some totals exclude students who were enrolled in Pre-K but not scheduled to a half-day or full-day classroom on the 20th day (September 15, 2025).