How many students at Hogwarts?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 46452

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., meckelburg at f... wrote:
> Here is another Question you have probably discussed in length 
> before,  but I just have to know:
> 
> JKR said there were about 1000 students at Hogwarts.
> With 7 Years, and 4 Houses each Year, that means Harry must have 
> about 35 Classmates in Griffindor.!
> 
> Why are there only 5 Boys in the Boys-class-dormitory? We only know 
> of about 3 or 4 girls, so I miss abouit 25 children. Can you help me 
> find them?;)
> 
> Mecki

bboy_mn heading for hot water again:

Sadly, I think you have asked the unanswerable question. This subject
has been discussed in great detail many times... many... many... many
times. Always great fun, alway produces heated arguments, and great
new theories and explanation, but the issue is never resolved.

My opinion and only my opinion (as all those who disagree will quickly
point out)

Rowling said there were 1,000 students. Which doesn't quite add up, so
I have to ask. Did she mean ALWAYS 1,000 student? Enrollment PEAKED at
a 1,000 students? Currently 1,000? Absolutely 1,000? Approximately
1,000? Vaguely of that general area? For reference, undergraduate
enrollment at the Univ. of MN fluctuated 30% in the last 20 years.

Answer: We don't know exactly what she meant.

My belief: Less than 1,000, but more than 500. Can I prove that? NO!
But you imagine your Hogwarts the way you want it and this is how I
will imagine mine.

As a side note: They use about 600 extras to film the Dining Hall
scenes in the movie. (600/4=150/house; 150/7=21/yr)

The numbers probably don't add up because they were never meant to add
up. As long as Rowling can create an illusion of the size of the
school population and the wizard world population that is believable
as you read the story, then she has done her job and done it well. 

Very few books have been as thoroughly deconstructed as Rowlings books
have, and very few books could stand up as well to that level of
analysis as JKR's books have.

So, personally I believe there are more students than we see, but at
the same time, I don't think CURRENT enrollment is a full 1,000 students.

Without a doubt, I believe that enrollment is significantly more than
300, regardless of what the numbers say.

So all I can give you are beliefs, and very very few facts.

Just some thoughts.

bboy_mn