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About 150 fewer students to attend Brainerd schools BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD Staff Writer Brainerd school administrators are predicting about 150 fewer students will be attending Brainerd schools this fall compared to last year's enrollment numbers, Brainerd School Board members learned Wednesday at a board curriculum meeting.
And that enrollment decline, which has been anticipated, is attributed mostly to the close of open enrollment and because a larger-than-normal class of students graduated last May, said Brainerd Superintendent Steve Razidlo.
Last year the district had about 7,100 students. This fall the district is anticipating an enrollment of 6,950, said Razidlo. Razidlo said enrollment numbers will fluctuate for a few weeks into the school year.
The district had closed open enrollment for all grade levels last school year as the board began cutting $5.5 million from its budget and class sizes were increased. This summer the board reopened enrollment in 10th- through 12th-grades only.
As a result, a few high school students enrolled, including two from Little Falls Wednesday, but not a large number since enrollment was opened, said Willy Severson, director of schools.
Severson gave board members an updated look at enrollment per grade level and average numbers of students per class in each grade.
Grade-level enrollment figures as of Aug. 15 are: Kindergarten, 499 students; first grade, 516 students; second grade, 501 students; third grade, 490 students; fourth grade, 502 students; fifth grade, 472 students; sixth grade, 473 students; seventh grade, 535 students; eighth grade, 477 students; ninth grade, 532 students; 10th grade, 539 students; 11th grade, 527 students; and 12th grade, 524 students. This totals 6,587 K-12 students and does not include students enrolled in early childhood programs, the Brainerd School District Learning Center, Lincoln Education Center and the Middle Level Alternative program. These enrollment figures will be included when they are known after school begins.
Elementary school classrooms range from about 23-31 students per class.
Forestview Middle School classrooms range from about 30 to 36 students per class.
Brainerd High School ninth grade classes average about 35 students. Class sizes vary, depending on subject, in 10th- through 12th-grade from 24 students per class in an art class to 35 students in physical education classes. The core subjects will have average class sizes of about 26-27 students, said Severson.
School starts Sept. 2.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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