How many students at Hogwarts?
I just found an absolute treasure trove over at the Harry Potter Lexicon, and that is the Essay Section. For instance, here’s one about Hogwarts:
There are actually about three hundred, it would seem, although there is plenty of debate on the subject. Here’s the evidence from the books themselves:
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There are more or less ten students (depending on the vagarities of the Sorting) in each House per year, five boys and five girls.
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There were twenty broomsticks lying on the ground awaiting the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins for their first flying lesson, which bears that number out (PS9).
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A double class of Potions — Gryffindor and Slytherin — had twenty cauldrons set up.
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For a double class of Herbology — Gryffindor and Hufflepuff — Professor Sprout had twenty pairs of earmuffs ready (CS6).
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Harry’s class in Gryffindor has the following students in it:
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If there are more Gryffindors of that year, isn’t it strange that we haven’t heard about them in six years’ worth of books? Not a one has spoken up in class, has been part of any parties or activities in the common room, or anything like that. Judging by the numbers cited above for Herbology, flying, and Potions, they must not even be in the same classes. If there are any others, where in the world are they? We do have evidence suggesting the existence of two more girls, but if they exist they have been awfully quiet.
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Assuming the ten students per House per year numbers, that would work out to forty students per year for a total of about 280 students. This meshes with the several times that Harry has seen "hundreds" of people in the Great Hall (in PS7 when Harry was Sorted and GF17 when he was chosen for the Tournament, for example).
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The number of teachers would also suggest a fairly small number of students. In GF12 Harry looks along the staff table in the Great Hall. He notes teachers by name until he gets to Dumbledore in the middle of the table. He has named Flitwick, Sprout, Sinistra, Snape, and an open chair for McGonagall on that side, which means that there would be the same number on the other side, for a total of eleven, counting Dumbledore. Add Trelawney, who we know doesn’t attend these functions, and we get an even dozen teachers. Twelve teachers would not be able to teach classes to a thousand students, unless they used Time Turners constantly, which doesn’t seem likely.
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The Sorting in PA5 takes only as long as a fairly quick conversation between Harry, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey and a subsequent chat between Hermione and McGonagall. The duration of these chats seems quite short. But if there are a thousand students at Hogwarts, there would be between 150 and 200 students to sort every year. Even at the rate of two per minute, that would mean the sorting would last for over an hour. Would the rest of the students really be willing to sit for that long waiting to eat? I think it would get a bit long. And the sorting we’ve witnessed in the books certainly doesn’t seem to last over an hour.
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On the other hand, there are about a hundred carriages to take students to the castle from the train station in Hogsmeade (PA5). There were also 1200 seats available around the tables at the Yule Ball (GF23). And during one Quidditch match, there were two hundred Slytherin supporters in the stadium when we know that the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were backing Gryffindor (PA15). So there are some references that support the "thousand student" concept. But by far most of the evidence suggests a much smaller number…
Tags: hogwarts, ravenclaws, hufflepuffs, gryffindor, harry potter
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POSTED IN: Harry Potter Books, Harry Potter Trivia
5 opinions for How many students at Hogwarts?
ArtyGirl
Feb 19, 2007 at 15:05
That is not true. Just because there is 20 so and so laid out, doesnt mean there are only about 50 students per house. Many people are bystandards and are not mentioned at all. Not to mention that there are core classes, or periods, in which he teacher will have a whole new class of students. You have gotten wayyyyyyyy to mathematical, and you should just enjoy the story, not wory about the details. WHo cares if there are 100 students or 1000, it’s not a big deal. Hogwarts doesnt even exist. If you are so interested, just ask JK Rowling herself.
HarryPotterFANatic
Feb 22, 2007 at 19:45
I agree with both sides. It’s quite true that by the mathematical ways, it is proven for 300 or so students. On the other hand, not all students are Hermiones. What I mean is, that not all students like to be the center of attention. Maybe those students don’t like the bitter winds during the cold Quidditch matches. Though I hate to say it, Harry Potter is JUST a book. Because the other students aren’t a main character, they are not most likely going to be mentioned. For example: the Parvarti twins were mentioned earlier, but not really talked about, just a few words here and there. It wasn’t until the fourth Harry Potter that they actually had a part a little bit (the Yule Ball). Then, in the fifth, only ONE of the Parvarti twins was mentioned. ex: when Harry and Parvarti were sitting embarassed while Lavender and Ron went at it. They started talking. After that, she was barley mentioned again. I hope I prove my point for both sides. In the end, it doesn’t REALLY matter. Wanna know why? Because the series ROCKS!
Kiana
Jun 20, 2007 at 01:58
smart…
Emma
Dec 16, 2007 at 00:18
I don’t agree with whoever wrote this article because even though we know their is only about 40 students in Harry’s year level there may be more in higher and lower year levels which means that Harry did probally see hundreds of students. Also about the teachers there are more than 12 becasue in higher year levels they pick their subjects so Harry hasn’t met all the teachers in Hogwarts. You also have to count the Ancient Runes teacher Bathsheba Babbling, muggle studies teacher Charity Burbage, the rithmancy teacher Professor Vector etc. So there are many more teachers that we haven’t been introduced to because Harry misses his last year of school when he would have had many new teachers.
doesnt matter
Jun 4, 2008 at 14:03
I)Emma are you stupid???
1Madam Hooch (Flying)
2Minerva McGonagall (Transfig)
3Professor Sinistra (Astronomy)
4Professor Sprout (Herbology)
5Professor Vector (Arithmancy)
6Charity Burbage/Alecto Carrow (MS)
7Unknown teacher (AR)*
8Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster)
9Filius Flitwick (Charms)
10Professor Kettleburn/Hagrid(CoMC)
11Severus Snape/Horace Slughorn (Potions)
12Quirrell/Lockhart/ Lupin/fake Moody/ Snape/Amycus Carrow (DADA)
13*Hagrid
Professor Binns (History of Magic )[is a ghost so doesn’t count)
Sibyll Trelawney/Firenze(Divination)[didn’t sat at the table]
there are your 12-13 persons who sat at the table…
II)dumbledore didn’t teach.
III)hare are all of the subjects:
1Astronomy
2Charms
3Defense Against the Dark Arts
4Herbology
5History of Magic
6Potions
7Transfiguration
8Ancient Runes
9Arithmancy
10Care of Magical Creatures
11Divination
12Muggle Studies
13Flying
IV)so read the books
visit http://www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html
and you will know there are aprox 280 students…….and you shouldnt say things likeAlso about the teachers there are more than 12 becasue in higher year levels they pick their subjects so Harry hasn’t met all the teachers in Hogwarts” without proof
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