Area schools gear up for summer school; Cape sees large increase in high-school enrollment

Now that the Cape Girardeau School District is getting ready for seven daily periods instead of eight, participation in summer classes has surged at the high school.

A group of students colors their Spanish workbooks during class for the Jackson Summer Adventure Club on Friday at East Elementary.Glenn Landberg

Numbers provided by the district show summer school enrollment there has risen dramatically to 343 students this time compared to 155 last summer and 160 the summer before.

Christa Turner, the district’s director of academic services, attributes the spike to more course offerings being available for students at all grade levels, including incoming freshmen who previously were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.

One of the big draws, in addition to normal credit-recovery classes and several newly added electives, is students being able to knock out their physical education requirements. In some cases, students not only are taking morning classes, but afternoon classes as well.

Marissa Higuera talks with a student during Spanish class at the Jackson Summer Adventure Club on Friday at East Elementary.Glenn Landberg

“It could be students who are behind or students who want to get ahead,” Turner said.

At the same time high-school level enrollment has increased locally, participation in the elementary grades has dropped from 258 students last year to 178 this year. During the 2014 school year, 243 K-4 students were enrolled in summer school.

Turner said she is not sure what has caused the decrease and will be watching to see if the trend continues.

Jennie Pehle uses a robot named Dash to teach basic computer programing skills to her class during the Jackson Summer Adventure Club on Friday at East Elementary.Glenn Landberg

At the middle-school level, enrollment has increased only slightly from 68 to 75 students, and junior-high participation has dipped from 74 students last year to 68 this year.

Jackson

In the Jackson School District, summer-school enrollment has remained much the same, except for a slight rise in elementary-level participation, said assistant superintendent Matt Lacey.

Right now, 640 elementary students are enrolled in the Jackson summer-school program, up from the usual average of 600.

A student uses a tablet to learn basic computer programing skills during the Jackson Summer Adventure Club on Friday at East Elementary.Glenn Landberg

“That’s kind of an all-time high for us,” Lacey said.

Part of the reason is likely the fun nature of Jackson’s summer-school approach, whose theme this time around is comic-book heroes.

“It’s a lot of enrichment activities as well as instruction,” he said.

The number of Jackson Middle School students in summer school is about 200, and the number of junior-high students is about 220 — both typical figures, he said.

Windows sit decorated with superhero-themed paintings in the cafeteria at East Elementary for the Jackson Summer Adventure Club on Friday.Glenn Landberg

However, at the high-school level, the 315 students attending summer school this year are up by about 50 from last year.

Scott City

In the Scott City School District, the total number of students in summer school is 390 for grades K-12, said superintendent Brian Lee.

That’s down from 400 participants last summer and 420 the year before.

“The vast majority of them are elementary-school students and a chunk from middle school,” Lee said.

As for the decrease in enrollment, Lee wasn’t sure what might have caused it or if it’s just an anomaly.

“It might be fewer kids wanting to go or (others) on vacation,” he said.

Although Scott City’s summer program is mainly for enrichment, it also helps students catch up academically.

Perry County

In the Perry County School District, communications director Kate Martin said most summer programming is for enrichment, and attendance numbers tend to remain steady.

Perryville Elementary School’s Camp Curiosity, which is held each June, has 450 students enrolled.

The middle school’s remedial program accommodates 35 to 40 students, and its Summerscapes enrichment program has doubled to 143 students participating.

On the high-school level, up to 80 students are enrolled in remedial activities during the summer. They come from Perryville High School, Oak Ridge High and St. Vincent.

ljones@semissourian.com

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