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NewsDecember 24, 1999

LEOPOLD -- Leopold School District patrons had very little to frown about when they received the school district's report card earlier this month. Much of the news included in the report card, a document which profiles the district's previous school year, reflected continued growth or progress to meet or exceed average performance by other school districts in the state...

LEOPOLD -- Leopold School District patrons had very little to frown about when they received the school district's report card earlier this month.

Much of the news included in the report card, a document which profiles the district's previous school year, reflected continued growth or progress to meet or exceed average performance by other school districts in the state.

School officials were not available this week to discuss the report, which was released to district patrons and local media Dec. 1.

Like its neighboring school districts, the Leopold school enrollment has been growing in recent years.

During the 1998-99 school year, 243 students attended Leopold schools, a 16 percent increase from 1994-95.

At the same time, the district maintained a high 96.6 percent attendance rate, exceeding the state average by nearly 4 percent.

The district's assessed valuation also increased annually in the past five years. Between 1994-95 and 1998-99, school administrators saw the district's assessed valuation grow nearly 41 percent to $4,678,735.

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Despite the small school's growth, the district has maintained small class sizes and student to teacher ratios.

In fact, the ratio of students to classroom teachers was 16 to one last year, well below the state's 19 to one average.

The district's ratio was higher only once in recent years: in 1995-96, when it reached 17 students to each classroom teacher.

The report did show some areas of concern for school administrators. For example, for the first time in four years, Leopold reported a drop out rate. School officials reported a 5.4 percent drop out rate, about 13 students. The percentage equals the 1998-99 state average.

Previously, the district had reported no drop outs.

Like other school districts in the region, Leopold's average teachers salaries also fell well short of the state average of $33,463. The average Leopold teacher received a salary of $23,457 last year.

Although $10,000 less than the state average, Leopold salaries have grown dramatically some 36 percent in the past four years.

During the 1994-95 school year, the average salary was $17,191, more than $12,000 less than the state average at the time.

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