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School enrollment mostly stable in Brainerd area
Staff Writer Student enrollment during the first week of school has been mostly stable in Brainerd area school districts, with small increases or decreases from last year, school officials reported.
The Brainerd School District experienced an increase of 16 students from last fall, although enrollment figures often continue to fluctuate for the first few weeks of school. Enrollment figures for students who will be enrolled in alternative education programs and Early Childhood Special Education during the upcoming year are forecasted.
"It's flat, but I'm encouraged by the small gain," Brainerd Superintendent Steve Razidlo said of enrollment. "We're still ahead of the enrollment projections we used to build the June budget."
Razidlo said some grade enrollment increases may be attributed to more students switching to Brainerd schools from a parochial school or area school district. Both Brainerd sixth-graders and ninth-graders had 15 more students in their grades than the previous year. Eleventh grade experienced a decrease of 18 students during the first week, but Razidlo said it's likely that many of those students who didn't show up for school the first week will end up enrolled in the alternative program.
Fifth grade experienced a decrease in 10 students from the class last year. Razidlo said many of those students likely attended Nisswa Elementary School and either returned to the Pequot Lakes School District or open enrolled to the neighboring school district.
The Pillager School District experienced a relatively big jump in enrollment, with 26 new students in a district of 800 students. So did Pine River-Backus, with an increase of 52 students in its district of 879 students. Nearby Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, with a total enrollment of 807 students, experienced a decrease of 30 students.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
By the numbers
Enrollment reported after the first week of school by area districts:
Brainerd
6,860 students, an increase of 16 students from last fall. Grade-level enrollment was reported as follows: Kindergarten, 524 students; first grade, 490 students; second grade, 509 students; third grade, 498 students; fourth grade, 477 students; fifth grade, 484 students; sixth grade, 475 students; seventh grade, 479 students; eighth grade, 522 students; ninth grade, 484 students; 10th grade, 513 students; 11th grade, 512 students; 12th grade, 518 students; Brainerd School District Learning Center, 130 students (forecasted); Lincoln Education Center, 74 students; Middle Level Alternative Program, 17 students; and Early Childhood Special Education (forecasted), 160 students.
Here's a breakdown of enrollment by building: Baxter Elementary, 535 students; Garfield Elementary, 435 students; Harrison Elementary, 259 students; Lowell Elementary, 426 students; Nisswa Elementary, 281 students; Riverside Elementary, 562 students; Forestview Middle School, 1,960 students; Brainerd High School South Campus, 484 students; BHS, 1,543 students; AEC (forecasted), 130 students; LEC, 74 students; MLAP, 17 students; and ECSE (forecasted), 160 students.
Aitkin
No information.
Crosby-Ironton
1,157 students, an increase of about seven students.
Crosslake Community School
130 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade, an increase of 15 students.
Emily Charter School
36 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, an increase of five students.
Family of Christ Lutheran School
32 students in prekindergarten through eighth-grade, a decrease of about 21 students.
Lake Region Christian School
231 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade, an increase of 11 students.
Little Falls
2,474 students, an increase of 15 students.
Oak Street Christian School
Six students in kindergarten through sixth grade, a decrease of one student.
Pequot Lakes
1,587 students, an increase of 16 students.
Pillager
800 students, an increase of 26 students.
Pillager Area Charter School
45 students, an increase of one student.
Pine River-Backus
879 students, an increase of 52 students.
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School
196 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, a slight increase.
Staples-Motley
1,275 students, a decline.
Wadena-Deer Creek
1,009 students, a decrease of 21 students.
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
807 students, a decrease of 30 students.
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