Enrollment Increases in Roseville Area Schools

Overall enrollment in Roseville Area schools has increased 3.6 percent, an increase that’s largely attributable to a growing number of elementary students, according to a preliminary report to be presented tonight (Tuesday) to the District 623 Board of Education.

Enrollment at the elementary level increased 6 percent over the past 12 months, from 3,452 to 3,652, according to the report, prepared by assistant superintendent Joe Wemette.  The increase in grades seven and eight, from 994 to 1003 students, is less than 1 percent, while the increase in grades nine through 12,  from 2,283 to 2,317 totals 1.5 percent.

Class sizes in grades K-6 average 25.27, roughly the same as last year.  But preliminary data indicates that four K-3 classrooms – two at Central Park Elementary and two at Edgerton Elementary – have more than 30 students per teacher.

Nine classrooms for grades four to six have more than 30 students: all six sections for grades five and six at Brimhall; one fifth-grade class at Little Canada and two fourth-grade sections at Emmet D. Williams Elementary. The district provides teaching assistants for elementary grades with large class sizes.

Intermediate and high school classes average 31 per teacher, but staffing ratios (which consider counselors and other professional support staff) reduce that figure to 22.27 for grades seven and eight and 25.99 for grades nine through 12.

Wemette stressed that the enrollment counts are inflated.  “We know how many kids are coming in, but we don’t know how many are leaving,” he said.  He will present a final report to the board in October.

Tuesday’s board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the District 623 Center, 1251 County Road B2, Roseville.  For other items on the agenda, go to www.isd623.org/schoolboard/documents/BoardPacket.pdf.