Enrollment in Lawrence public schools climbed by another 2 percent this year, growth powered in large part by continued popularity of the Lawrence Virtual School.

The Lawrence school district reported Monday that it had 11,053 students, up 220 from a year earlier. The district and others statewide were required to report enrollment data Monday to the Kansas Department of Education, which will use the data to determine how much money to send back to districts after audits this spring.

In general, districts receive $4,012 in base state aid per student, and that number can be increased depending on certain conditions.

“It’s better to be up than to be down,” said Kim Bodensteiner, the district’s chief academic officer. “We look forward to growth and continued increases in numbers. We’re a growing, education-focused community.”

Included in the report:

• The Lawrence Virtual School, based inside the former Centennial School at 2145 La., reported having 1,331 students for an increase of 252, up 23 percent from a year earlier.

• Aside from the Virtual School, Deerfield School is the district’s largest elementary, with 530 students. That’s up 28, or 5.6 percent, from a year ago.

• New York School had the biggest percentage increase among elementaries: 48 percent, reflecting the addition of 65 students after boundaries were adjusted to make room for preschoolers at Kennedy School.

• Wakarusa Valley School remains the district’s smallest; its enrollment of 194 students is down 20, or 9.3 percent.

• Among the four traditional junior highs, only South reported an increase: 20 students, up 3.5 percent to a total of 589.

• Enrollments in the two traditional high schools dropped. Lawrence High School has 1,206 students, down 41, or 1.9 percent; Free State High School has 1,064, down 2.