Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland Public Schools saw an unexpected bump in enrollment this fall, driven by more kindergartners than expected.

The total enrollment of more than 46,000 students reflects a potential rebound for Portland.

Earlier this decade, high housing costs, and other factors, drove some families away from the district.

The spike in the early grades took some schools by surprise.

Christopher Gutierrez is the Atkinson Elementary principal. He had to open an additional  blended classroom for kindergarten and frst grade . But he says the growth has been exciting.

Christopher Gutierrez: “It’s really good that we are in such demand at Atkinson, not just for our excellence in presenting the regular core curriculum in English and in Spanish, in our immersion program. People want to be part of our school community, and I’m excited about that.”

In recent years, enrollment at Salem-Keizer and Beaverton had been catching up with Portland’s.

Forecasts from a few years ago predicted Portland’s enrollment would bottom out at 44,000 in 2010, and then turn around.

Demographers will want to see in the years to come if this year's 46,000 students indicate an early turnaround, or just a statistical blip.