ENROLLMENT GROWS AT JACKSON AND SCOTT CITY

Jackson public schools welcomed over 100 additional students to classes this school year. Scott City's enrollment was up 28 students.

Cape Girardeau's numbers are down 23 from last year, but officials expect that number to climb so enrollment will be about equal to last year.

Start of school enrollment figures fluctuate during the first couple weeks of classes. The state requires a "benchmark" census be taken in September. That enrollment count is used to figure state funding and for other official purposes.

Howard Alexander with Jackson schools said the first day of school head count was 3,813. That's up 107 students from last year.

Alexander said the first day count may be high, but school officials expected numbers to be up.

"We were looking at an enrollment increase," Alexander said. "We've anticipated growth."

The district added several teachers and moved three first grade classes from Orchard Drive Elementary School to the kindergarten annex building to make more classroom space.

"Until our middle school is open, that's about all we can do," he said.

The middle school is expected to be completed in April 1995 and open for students in August 1995.

The reason for climbing enrollment year after year? "Everybody likes us," Alexander said. "I think the city of Jackson is just growing."

Richard Bollwerk with Cape Girardeau schools said that the first days of school historically have the worst attendance for Cape Girardeau schools.

On the first day of school, the head count was down 48 students from last year. By this week the number had climbed 25 students to 4362. Bollwerk expects the number to keep going up and that enrollment will be about equal to last year.

While the total isn't up, Bollwerk said some schools are crowded. Some fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Franklin have been transferred to Jefferson, as has been the practice.

The district has a cap of 25 students per kindergarten class. Clippard this year has one morning and one afternoon session of kindergarten, limiting the total to 50 students. Bollwerk said about 15 kindergarteners have been transferred to classes at Alma Schrader.

"Anytime enrollment is down it will affect state aid," Bollwerk said. "That does concern us as we are a hold harmless district. Any increase is pretty dependent on increased enrollment."

A bright note to the enrollment is that class sizes at Jefferson and May Greene are small, with most classes at Jefferson in the low 20s and most at May Greene in the teens.

Scott City saw its second year of increased enrollment, said Superintendent Douglas Berry. Although the growth is small, Berry hopes it signals a trend.

The school enrolled 949 students this year, compared to 921 last year. The numbers were up by 14 students in both the elementary school and the high school.

"Last year our enrollment was up some," Berry said. "This is the first time in several years that we have seen a real growth."

Prior to last year, enrollment had been dropping.

One and a half new teachers were hired to accommodate the growth and some adjustments have been made for high school class schedules.

He is watching the kindergarten class. Last year, 92 kindergarten students attended Scott City. This year the number is down to 69.

Sister Mary Ann Fischer, principal at Notre Dame Catholic High School, said school started on an up beat.

"Enrollment is up. Spirit is up and the heat is up. That sums it up," she said.

Enrollment at the school is the highest in 13 years with 327 students. Last year the school had 285 students.

The freshman class is the largest in 17 years with 102 students.

Fischer said the school has been experiencing gradual increases in enrollment for the past several years.

"More and more parents are seeing the value of a Catholic education," she said.