We’ve updated our earlier analysis of public school enrolment and capacity to reflect September 2021 student numbers.
Similar to what we reported back in March, Grand Cayman’s public secondary schools are at more than 90% of their maximum capacity, meaning they could accommodate fewer than 150 additional students who wish to enrol.
There is comparatively less crowding in Grand Cayman’s primary schools (at 72% capacity).
The most-crowded primary schools are Prospect Primary School (90%), Red Bay Primary School (81%) and George Town Primary School (80%).
The Department of Education Services calculates the maximum capacity of schools and year groups using by multiplying the number of classes by 28 students (or by 24 students for Reception and Year 1; or by 15 students for the specialist Lighthouse School).
Systemwide, schools on Grand Cayman could accommodate nearly 1,200 extra students, while Sister Islands schools could accommodate nearly 350 extra students.
John Gray High School is the second most-crowded school in the country, at 94% capacity and with room for 72 more students.
However, that does not account for room created by September's opening of an initial phase of the $170 million new John Gray expansion project. When complete, the project will also provide new additional space for CIFEC (95% capacity) and other entities.
However, the finished new John Gray would not necessarily allow the school to accommodate more high school students in the long term, as the maximum capacity for the new John Gray is reportedly 1,200 students — the same as the existing John Gray.
Crowded classrooms or empty hallways? A Current analysis of public school enrolment and capacity