Cassville Democrat: Local News: Enrollment numbers increase slightly (08/24/11)

Back to school for area students Democrat Photo/Lindsay Reed The Cassville R-4 School District welcomed 1,856 students back to school on Aug. 17. The district's total enrollment decreased by 3.5 percent this year. The Shell Knob and Wheaton school districts also saw decreases in student numbers while Monett, Purdy, Exeter and Southwest school districts reported increases in enrollment. Total enrollment at all seven school districts in Barry County was 6,610 on the first day of classes. Pictured above, from left, are: Cassville Intermediate School third graders Brina Davis, Allie Coones, Laney Roller, Dazee Williams and Adrienne Zucca.

According to enrollment figures provided by district officials, a total of 6,610 students have enrolled to attend classes in Barry County this fall. The 2011-12 school year marks less than a 1 percent increase in student attendance over last year when the county's seven school districts welcomed 6,583 students to class.

The Monett, Purdy, Exeter and Southwest school districts reported increases in enrollment while Cassville, Shell Knob and Wheaton saw a decrease in student numbers.

The Monett School District, the county's largest district, experienced the biggest increase in enrollment for the 2011-12 school year, growing by 1.5 percent. This fall, there were 2,313 students enrolled in the R-1 District, which is 34 more than at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.

Purdy is serving 21 additional students this year. The R-2 School District's enrollment increased from 626 last year to 647 this year.

Exeter has welcomed four new students and Southwest has added two students for the 2011-12 school year. The R-6 School District's attendance increased by 1.1 percent and the R-5 School District's enrollment increased by around one-quarter of 1 percent.

The Cassville School District saw a 3.5 percent decrease in student enrollment, which was the largest drop in student numbers across the county. This year, 66 fewer students enrolled at the district, decreasing the school's enrollment from 1,922 last year to 1,856 this year.

Shell Knob and Wheaton also have smaller enrollments this year. Shell Knob decreased from 139 last year to 135 this year, and Wheaton decreased from 476 last year to 471 this year.

A breakdown of enrollment figures by grade is provided below for all seven Barry County school districts. The number in parentheses is the number enrolled in that grade at the start of the 2010-11 school year.

* Cassville: preschool, 59 (73); kindergarten, 138 (126); first grade, 142 (124); second grade, 120 (133); third grade, 139 (128); fourth grade, 126 (137); fifth grade, 132 (144); sixth grade, 141 (147); seventh grade, 140 (134); eighth grade, 141 (142); ninth grade, 153 (162); 10th grade, 140 (170); 11th grade, 165 (145); and 12th grade, 120 (157).

* Monett: kindergarten, 188 (180); first grade, 191 (164); second grade, 171 (180); third grade, 183 (175); fourth grade, 189 (189); fifth grade, 193 (180); sixth grade, 185 (179); seventh grade, 193 (167); eighth grade, 172 (181); ninth grade, 187 (144); 10th grade, 163 (174); 11th grade, 153 (126); and 12th grade, 145 (150).

* Shell Knob: kindergarten, 16 (23); first grade, 19 (13); second grade, 11 (12); third grade, 10 (16); fourth grade, 20 (16); fifth grade, 17 (14); sixth grade, 16 (15); seventh grade, 12 (17); and eighth grade, 14 (13).

* Purdy: kindergarten, 39 (28); first grade, 61 (48); second grade, 54 (46); third grade, 43 (39); fourth grade, 38 (45); fifth grade, 47 (56); sixth grade, 55 (41); seventh grade, 44 (49); eighth grade, 46 (51); ninth grade, 54 (64); 10th grade, 63 (57); 11th grade, 58 (48); and 12th grade, 45 (54).

* Exeter: kindergarten, 28 (24); first grade, 21 (34); second grade, 33 (35); third grade, 37 (22); fourth grade, 21 (20); fifth grade, 22 (21); sixth grade, 28 (30); seventh grade, 31 (26); eighth grade, 30 (27); ninth grade, 34 (34); 10th grade, 30 (27); 11th grade, 24 (27); and 12th grade, 24 (32).

* Southwest: kindergarten, 65 (55); first grade, 53 (61); second grade, 63 (64); third grade, 62 (74); fourth grade, 79 (55); fifth grade 55 (62); sixth grade, 66 (68); seventh grade, 65 (59); eighth grade, 58 (63); ninth grade, 79 (89); 10th grade, 60 (63); 11th grade, 54 (58); and 12th grade, 66 (52).

* Wheaton: preschool, 42 (41); kindergarten, 36 (33); first grade, 28 (25); second grade, 24 (29); third grade, 30 (27); fourth grade, 29 (36); fifth grade, 34 (37); sixth grade, 37 (32); seventh grade, 34 (32); eighth grade, 29 (23); ninth grade, 28 (37); 10th grade, 39 (49); 11th grade, 43 (39); and 12th grade, 38 (36).