Combating a trend that has plagued the division over the past decade, Kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolment has increased by 71 students throughout the Pembina Hills school division.
At their Wednesday meeting in Barrhead, trustees learned that as of Sept. 30, 4,055 students were enrolled compared to 3,984 last year — an increase of 1.78 per cent.
The number of Kindergarten students is up by 36 while the population of Grades 1-12 students has risen by 35.
Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt said the figures are a cause for celebration.
“This is just a great news story,” she said. “I don’t know what’s happening, but we are pleased to be up on the number of kids we serve.”
Kindergarten enrolment stands at 454, a nine per cent rise on 2012’s 418.
“Kindergarten includes 82 early entry students,” said Symyrozum-Watt. “This compares with 76 in 2012-2013.
“The number of early entry students varies from year to year. However, generally it is on the increase.”
The number of Grades 1-12 students totals 3,601, 0.98 per cent higher than last year’s figure of 3,566.
The increase follows a steady enrolment decline over the last decade, bar the occasional good year.
In 1994/95, there were 5,357 students. Now the figure stands at 4,055 — a drop of 1,302, or 24.3 per cent.
“We are not alone in this decline,” said Symyrozum-Watt. “It’s a picture of rural Alberta. It’s not just about Barrhead, Westlock and Swan Hills.”
Symyrozum-Watt said unfortunately not every school saw an increase this year.
“We have pockets of increase,” she said. “Some schools continue to experience enrolment decline.”
In the kindergarten category, Barrhead Elementary School enjoyed the biggest increase. Numbers went up by 40, from 125 to 165 — a 32 per cent difference.
Fort Assiniboine School saw a 73 per cent jump from 11 to 19, while Neerlandia Public Christian School, Busby, Eleanor Hall School in Clyde and Swan Hills all experienced slight declines.
In the Grades 1-12 category, Westlock Elementary School has 17 more students on the books than last year, a four per cent rise. R.F. Staples and Busby each have 10 more students.
Barrhead Composite High School now has 716 students, four more than 2012.
The average grade size this year is 306.46 students. This contrasts with 412.08 in 1994/95.
Symyrozum-Watt said this significant drop equates to the loss of at least three teachers.
“It’s data that we need to be cognizant of,” she said.
Also revealed were comparisons by grade for 2013/14. These showed Grade 7 had the lowest number of students: 253. Not counting Kindergarten, Grade 11 had the highest at 324.
