The area's rapid growth has caused the district to grow by 1100 new students annually over the past few years.

The district has grown by more than 5,000 students in the last five years.

Enrollment grew by about 100 students this year, he said, a small but significant gain because it is the first since 1980.

School population has risen from 21,000 to 26,000 in seven years and is expected to keep growing by 1,200 to 1,500 students a year.

In 2007, the state's school population grew by 477 students to 2,641,598, which was far below the projected 48,376 increase.

The 7,350-student district has grown by 1,600 students, or about 28 percent, since 1995.

Santa Rita's student body has grown by 20 students in the last ten years.

Enrollment in city schools could be the same or slightly higher than last year, when it grew by about 1,000 students.

As a result, the size of the school has increased rapidly, growing by over 100 students since the status was granted.

School enrollment, however, is expected to grow by 1.4 percent, or 15,000 students, to 1.09 million.