Enrollment numbers mixed

Recent enrollment counts at area schools show mixed results.

Fort Scott Community College has an enrollment of 2,017 students this fall, an increase of 278 students from last fall and the first time that enrollment at the college has broken the 2,000 student mark, according to FSCC officials.

The numbers represent a 16 percent increase in total head count enrollment. The increase in enrollment this year can be attributed to improved student retention, more convenient class offerings, academic advising, and the recent economy. FSCC's convenient class scheduling, transferability, and affordable tuition continue to be other reasons for significant enrollment increases at FSCC, officials said.

This is the second consecutive year that enrollment has increased at FSCC, which last year showed a 3.5 percent enrollment increase from the previous year. Nearly 1,800 students attended FSCC this past spring, nearly 100 more students than the previous spring. This summer, FSCC officials budgeted for a 5 percent jump in enrollment this fall.

Of total enrollment at FSCC, 1,123 students are full-time students, compared to 891 full-time students last year, and 894 part-time students. This year's enrollment numbers include 718 freshmen, 330 sophomores, 198 special students, and 771 high school students. There are 454 students from Bourbon County, 1,249 students from other Kansas counties, 311 out-of-state students, and three international students.

The figures are accurate as of Sept. 24, the 20th day of fall semester classes, when colleges, universities and technical colleges across Kansas are required to submit enrollment numbers to the Kansas Board of Regents.

Enrollment is up slightly this year at USD 235 in Uniontown. The district has a total enrollment of 467 students compared to 461 students last year. Full-time equivalency enrollment at USD 235 also increased from 434 last year to 439 this year. Areas that showed enrollment increases this year include the district 4-year-old preschool program, which jumped from 14 students last year to 15 students this year, and the kindergarten program, which increased from 42 students last year to 45 students this year.

Enrollment figures for most other grades in USD 235 stayed about the same as last year, according to USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold.

"We have had a great start to the school year," he said. "The staff and students are giving their best effort to make this a productive and academically rewarding year. We are blessed to have such a quality school and supportive community at Uniontown."

There are 236 students enrolled at West Bourbon Elementary School this year, the same number of students who took classes at WBE last year. Uniontown Junior Senior High School maintains an enrollment of 231 students this year, a slight increase from last year's 225 student total.

At USD 234, enrollment is down from 2,011 students last year to 1,953 students this year. FTE enrollment at USD 234 is also down slightly from 1,934 last year to 1,872 this year. However, enrollment in the district 4-year-old at-risk program increased from 28 students last year to 36 students this year. FTE enrollment in the 4-year-old at-risk program also went up this year, from 14 to 18.

Total USD 234 enrollment includes 569 students at Fort Scott High School, down from last year's 569 student total; 444 students at Fort Scott Middle School, down from last year's 459 student total; 488 students at Eugene Ware Elementary School, up from last year's 478 students; 438 students at Winfield Scott Elementary School, down from last year's 462 students; and 14 students in the preschool program, down from 21 last year, according to information provided by USD 234 Business Manager Alan Drake.

In early September, USD 234 reported a district head count enrollment of 1,948 students as of Aug. 17, the first day of school.

USD 234 and USD 235 enrollment figures are accurate as of Sept. 21, the 20th day of fall semester classes and the date which each of the 308 school districts in Kansas are required to submit enrollment numbers to the state.