Student Enrollment in Nation's Schools Hits Record High This Fall

By Andrew Trotter

Hear the noise? The "baby boom echo" is still resounding in the nation's schools.

The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics reported last month that 53 million children will be filling seats in public and private school classrooms, from prekindergarten through 12th grade, this year. That's the largest number in history—a distinction matched by the record 15.1 million students enrolled full time in college this year.

The precollegiate enrollment will stay fairly steady through 2010, and then begin to increase each year for the rest of the...