Overcrowding strains Bronx school district

School officials say booming enrollment in Bronx schools is leading to severe overcrowding, forcing some students to stand during classes. At DeWitt Clinton High School, student enrollment is over capacity

News 12 Staff

Dec 12, 2008, 12:03 AM

Updated 5,749 days ago

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School officials say booming enrollment in Bronx schools is leading to severe overcrowding, forcing some students to stand during classes.
At DeWitt Clinton High School, student enrollment is over capacity by more than 1,000. Officials say that isn't uncommon in District 10, which includes Spuyten Duyvil, Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Bedford Park and Norwood.
According to the Department of Education's five-year capital and zoning plans, six new elementary and middle schools are scheduled to be built in the Bronx. Two of those schools, one elementary and one junior high, are being proposed for District 10.
The plan wouldn't allot any funds to address high-school overcrowding with new buildings, but the DOE would buy 1,200 new seats.
The Department of Education says it is also studying additional plans to ease overcrowding, such as altering grade configurations and rezoning.