Student enrollment in the Fayette County School System took a step in an upward direction with the beginning of the school year in August, with enrollment closing in on 20,500.

The school system ended the previous year with 20,354 students enrolled, and with projections that the current school year that began in August would see 20,400 students this school year.

The number reported to the Fayette County Board of Education on August 26 showed 20,485 students enrolled.

As is customarily the case, those numbers should increase somewhat in the coming weeks with late arrivals moving into the county.

Current figures show the largest number of students enrolled since the 2012-2013 school year.

Fayette schools had an all-time high enrollment of 22,367 students during the 2006-2007 school year. Then came the Great Recession and it’s aftermath, that saw fewer families moving into the county.

Student enrollment over the past two decades tells the tale, both in the county’s long-time population growth, the effects of the recession and now, a return in recent years to increased economic growth and population increases.

Systemwide student enrollment numbers for the past two decades show:

• 2019-2020 – 20,485

• 2018-2019 – 20,354

• 2017-2018 – 20,083

• 2016-2017 – 20,058

• 2015-2016 – 20,105

• 2014-2015 – 20,066

• 2013-2014 – 20,166

• 2012-2013 – 20,463

• 2011-2012 – 20,437

• 2010-2011 – 21,207

• 2009-2010 – 21,683

• 2008-2009 – 22,047

• 2007-2008 – 22,108

• 2006-2007 – 22,367

• 2005-2006 – 22,291

• 2004-2005 – 21,531

• 2003-2004 – 21,195

• 2002-2003 – 21,314

• 2001-2002 – 20,337

• 2000-2001 – 19,832