Enrollment

AnjaliOberoi wrote:Part of the proposed increase in state education spending is due to higher enrollment, since the number of students in public schools have grown steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at a record high.

(A) enrollment, since the number of students in public schools have grown steadily since the mid 1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at
INCORRECT; we need "has"

(B) enrollment, with a number of students in public schools growing steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, reaching
INCORRECT; "with" acts as adverbial and is not needed in this sentence...":" acts as a descriptor that is what is needed as per the sentence meaning

(C) enrollment: since students in public schools have grown steadily in number since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, have reached
INCORRECT; students have not grown.. Number has grown

(D) enrollment: the number of students in public schools has grown steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, has reached
CORRECT

(E) enrollment: students in public schools have grown steadily in number since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at
INCORRECT; students have not grown.. Number has grown

AnjaliOberoi wrote:Part of the proposed increase in state education spending is due to higher enrollment, since the number of students in public schools have grown steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at a record high.

(A) enrollment, since the number of students in public schools have grown steadily since the mid 1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at

(B) enrollment, with a number of students in public schools growing steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, reaching

(C) enrollment: since students in public schools have grown steadily in number since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, have reached

(D) enrollment: the number of students in public schools has grown steadily since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, has reached

(E) enrollment: students in public schools have grown steadily in number since the mid-1980's and, at nearly 47 million, are at