The Oklahoma State Department of Education says the number of students enrolled in Oklahoma public schools at the start of the school year increased by more than 1,000 from the previous year. The number of students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade totaled 694,816. Edmond had the greatest year-to-year growth, increasing 2 percent over 2016.
"Once again, Oklahoma schools are educating more students than ever before with few new resources," said State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. "Funding has not kept pace with the steady rise in enrollment over the past decade, the growing diversity of Oklahoma's student population or the decrease of trained educators entering the profession. We will continue to advocate for teacher pay raises and adequate funding levels to meet the needs of all Oklahoma schoolchildren."