Both Marshall County school saw a slight increase in enrollment this year, based on early unofficial numbers. Both schools have been ticking upward in the last few years, bucking the trend of declining enrollment.
The first day of classes was Aug. 23 for Langford Area and Britton-Hecla.
Langford Area School District reported an unofficial total of 228 students that includes K-12 in Langford and Newport Colony schools, an increase of 6 over a year ago.
As the school year begins, LA has 178 students attending school in Langford with 93 in grades K-5, up two from last year; 41 in Middle School (grades 6-8), down one; and 44 in high school, down 5. There are 45 students in K-8 at Newport Colony.
Class sizes are as follows for in town: Kindergarten- 17 students; first- 10; second- 17; third- 17; fourth- 17; fifth- 15; sixth- 11; seventh- 15; eighth- 15; ninth- 11; 10th- 16; 11th-9; 12th- 8.
Last spring, 13 seniors graduated from Langford Area.
Newport Colony: Kindergarten- 5; first- 6; second- 8; third- 7; fourth- 4; fifth- 3; sixth- 3; seventh- 3; eighth- 6.
“I am happy with our numbers,” said new LA Superintendent Shad Storley. “It’s much better to be up six students rather than down. With our two smallest classes being juniors and seniors, if we consider the enrollment numbers of the middle school and elementary, our future looks bright!”
Britton-Hecla also saw an increase in overall enrollment. Between the in-town school and two colony schools, Superintendent Steve Benson said they have 483 students. This is up from their last count in April which was 471 district wide.
As the year begins, there are 171 students in the elementary school (K-5), 109 in middle school (6-8) and 128 in the high school. There are 38 students at the Sunset Colony school and 34 at the Westwood Colony school.
Class sizes are as follows for in town: Kindergarten- 28 students; first- 29; second- 29; third- 35; fourth- 25; fifth- 25; sixth- 40; seventh- 33; eighth- 36; ninth- 38; 10th- 33; 11th-27; 12th- 30.
There were 35 graduating seniors at B-H last spring.
Sunset Colony enrollment: Kindergarten- 6 students; first- 4; second- 2; third- 4; fourth- 3; fifth- 5; sixth- 1; seventh- 2; eighth- 1; ninth- 2; 10th- 3; 11th-2; 12th- 3. Westwood: Kindergarten- 11 students; first- 2; second- 5; third- 4; fourth- 1; fifth- 3; sixth- 4; seventh- 1; eighth-3.
Regarding the numbers, Superintendent Benson said, “Any time you can hold your enrollment is good. It’s great to see we’re gaining.”
“What we really don’t want to see is big drops,” he added. "That makes the next year hard to budget for.”
Benson also said he is pleased that they are fully staffed. “Teachers are hard to come by these days. With class sizes that sometimes fluctuate due to moving families and open enrollment, we might have to get creative but we’re doing well right now.”
The official enrollment count date for the state is in late September.
