Chappaqua Student Enrollment Hits 74 Above Projection

More students have been enrolled in the Chappaqua school district since it was announced earlier this month that the level is notably above the projection made earlier this year.

The new total, according to a Tuesday announcement from the school district, is 74 more students, a gain of 16 in just this month alone. The last update, which came from Superintendent Lyn McKay at the school board's Aug. 7 meeting, was a report of 58 more students.

With 74 additional students, the districtwide number stands at 4,043 for the 2013-14 school year, versus the 3,969 that was anticipated during a spring estimate for the budget process. This means that instead of a decline, overall enrollment is up by 21 students, from the previous school year's number of 4,022.

A majority of the newly enrolled students will be in kindergarten or first grade, the district announced. Because of this, the district is adding a kindergarten class section at Westorchard Elementary School, one first-grade section at Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School and one first-grade section at Roaring Brook Elementary School.

The unanticipated rise in enrollment is believed to have been caused by a recovering housing market, with real estate inventory moving in larger quantity.