School Enrollment Hits a 30-Year High

New Canaan Public Schools are not exactly bursting at the gills, but there are more students than expected this fall, and as many as there have been in about three decades. The five buildings have 4,096 students, according to a district report, 84 more than were initially expected for the 2010-11 school year.

Administration officials presented the enrollment picture to the Board of Education on Tuesday. Assistant Superintendent Steven Swerdlick said the total is the highest for New Canaan in about 30 years. The increase can be attributed to several things, Swerdlick said, including the economy, more people coming to town and people recognizing New Canaan as having a good academic reputation.

"We've gotten a lot of recognition the last couple of years for the quality of our school system," Swerdlick said, citing a Forbes magazine story about New Canaan.

Enrollment had been declining, according to the enrollment comparisons report. Last year, New Canaan Schools had 4,032 students, and 4,037 in 2008-09.

Superintendent of Schools David Abbey said the numbers for this year are "bucking what seemed to be a trend." The district will get a more firm idea of the enrollment next month, Abbey said. But he added that the current numbers are not a cause for concern.

"It's not so big that we can't handle it," he said. "We're going to be OK."

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