Area public schools see mixed enrollment figures

With the state's September count day coming up Sept. 25, Cape Girardeau County schools are seeing a mix of enrollment numbers. Schools receive state funding, in part, based on average daily attendance.

Districts' state funding depends on how many students the schools serve, Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education communications coordinator Sarah Potter said in an email to the Southeast Missourian.

In the Jackson School District, superintendent Ron Anderson said his enrollment appears to be steady "all around" with increases this year in grades kindergarten through 12.

"It's a good thing. It really is," Anderson said.

The Jackson district has about 4,750 students in kindergarten through 12th grade this year, and with early childhood students, enrollment could reach close to 5,000. The district is building a 105,000-square-foot elementary school, which will sit on 15 acres, and be the largest elementary campus in the district, he said.

Anderson has said the new school will allow the district to relieve overcrowding at some other buildings.

"I think people like the area very much, like the community, like the schools, like the location," Anderson said. From the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, Anderson said, the district grew at 3 percent annually. Then it kind of "leveled out" when the economy softened.

"Now it's starting to pick up some more," he said. "I think this area is fairly stable. We don't probably get the highs and the lows."

Cape Girardeau's enrollment is up about 100 students this year from 4,030 in 2012, and its numbers the last five years have continued to climb, according to the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

Superintendent James Welker said he thinks the numbers are between 4,100 and 4,200 this year.

"I believe our increases have come from the elementary and middle school level," Welker said. "I think we have a couple of classes coming through the high school that are a little bit smaller. As those classes move on through, we'll see growth come back at the high school, too."

Four teachers -- two this year and two last year -- were added at Central Middle School, Welker said. He declined to speculate on why student increases have been seen at that level.

"We're certainly happy to see the enrollment is increasing, but as far as the exact reason why, I couldn't speculate on that," Welker said. This year, Delta School District superintendent Nate Crowden said there are a "few more" students at the elementary level than the high school.

Enrollment may fluctuate throughout the year and housing can be one driver, especially in rural districts.

Bill Cole, broker/owner of Realty Executives of Cape County, said there's "plenty of housing" available in the Multiple Listing Service area, which includes Cape Girardeau County, northern Scott County and Bollinger County, but there is "probably a bit of a crunch on rental property."

"That seems be the biggest thing we get calls on is rental property," Cole said, adding the rental market is tight right now and occupancy is high.

As for homes in the Cape Girardeau area, Cole said there were 659 homes on the market for August this year and 701 in August 2012.

"We're down a little bit, but there's still inventory," he said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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301 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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