Dave Matthews
Woodward News
Woodward, Okla. —
Several local schools in the area had quite an increase in student enrollment for the 2010 - 2011 school year.
This includes Woodward High School, which has 634 students enrolled in 9th through 12th grades. This is a 2 percent increase over enrollment at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
“We have 14 more students now then we did at the end of school year. We had quite a bit of new students move in and transfers from surrounding schools,” Kathi Goodman in the attendance office said.
The new Early Childhood Center (ECC) also saw an increase in enrollment. In late July, ECC Principal Debbie Jones told The News that pre-enrollment numbers for the center were just over 600. However, once the school year got underway, that number has jumped to 707 students in pre-kindergarten through 1st grade.
Altogether Woodward's 3 elementary schools have the highest student population with 804 students enrolled in 2nd through 5th grades. However, representatives at Highland Park, Horace Mann and Cedar Heights said it is hard to judge whether that number represents an increase or decrease in enrollment because of the grade shifting that moved 1st grade out to the ECC and placed 5th grade at the elementary schools.
But the middle school did factor in the loss of its 5th grade population when registrar Barbara Roberts told The News that its "enrollment is about the same as last year" at 549 students in 6th through 8th grades.
In all, Woodward Public Schools has 2,694 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. This is 76 more students than were enrolled in the district for the 2009-2010 school year, representing a total district student population increase of 3 percent.
FORT SUPPLY
Fort Supply Public Schools was one of the few districts in the area that saw a bit of a decrease this year with 130 students enrolled. The elementary has 78 students attending pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, while the high school has 52 students in grades 7th through 12th grade.
Superintendent Pat Howell said an explanation for the slight decline could be from students transferring.
“I have talked to a couple of surrounding schools and I know some of their enrollment is up so I am not sure if some of our students transfered to another school,” he said.
MOORELAND
With a total enrollment around 540 students, Mooreland Public Schools saw quite an increase over last year's student population.
The elementary school has 295 students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, a 15 student increase from last year, or about 5 percent.
Elementary Principal Mickey Gregory said, “all the students are move-ins who are either new to the district or students who attended here before then moved away, but now they are returning.”
In addition, the high school had a roughly 20 percent increase, with around 40 new students, bringing enrollment in 7th through 12th grades to almost 245.
“We haven’t taken hardly any transfers this year, so most of the new students are moving into our district,” high school Principal Ron Wilson said. “I think most of them might be coming from Quinlan since they are in our district.”
SHARON-MUTUAL
Sharon-Mutual Public Schools also saw a bit of an increase in student enrollments with 297 students attending the district's 2 schools.
The elementary school has 190 students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, which is 20 more students than last year, representing an almost 12 percent increase.
“Our new students are move-ins to our district. Although, we had 1 transfer and that was it,” elementary secretary Shelly Palacios said.
The high school has 107 students in grades 7th through 12th, which is 4 more students than the previous year.
BUFFALO
Buffalo Public Schools saw a slight increase in students this year brining their total to 287 students. In elementary school pre-kindergarten through 6th grade have 165 students, while the high school grades 7th through 12th have 122 students.
Secretary Barbara Snail said, “we had a few students move in, but I think most of our increase came from the 5 foreign exchange students we have.”
FARGO
Fargo Public Schools had a bit of increase and decrease in student enrollments. The elementary enrollment was down 8 students this year, with only 122 students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. However, the high school was up about 10 students, bringing its total population to 105 students in 7th through 12th grades.
“The reason enrollment is up from 7th grade through 12th is because we had a large incoming 7th grade class," high school Principal Sherri Tune said. "We have also gained and lost students so it kind of evened itself out.”
SHATTUCK
Shattuck Public Schools saw a little increase in student enrollment. The increase came from the elementary grades pre-kindergarten through 5th grade with 205 students, which is up 20 students from last year. According to elementary officials, the students moved into the area from out of state while others transfered to the district. However, the high school grades 6th through 12th remained the same with about 128 students.
VICI
Vici Public Schools has 305 students enrolled this year. Pre-kindergarten through 6th grade has a 174 students and the high school has 131 students in grades 7th through 12th grade.
