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As B.C. students and their parents get ready for the start of the new school year on September 5, estimates show the school system is expecting more students than last year.

The Ministry of Education indicates 537,589 students are expected to enrol in public schools this year, an increase of 4,232.

School districts will receive approximately $9,100 for each of them.

In all, the education budget in 2017-2018 is $5.9 billion, and about $1 billion is going to students with special needs.

Last year B.C. had 66,285 English Language Learning students, a drop of about 394 from the year before.

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55,768 students were enrolled in French Immersion, a jump of 677.

More parents are also choosing independent schools for their kids.

83,497 students were enrolled in schools outside of the public system last year.

That’s a jump of 1,838 from the previous year.