WCSD No. 1 enrollment stays steady

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Despite a reported increase in homeschool recognition and virtual learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic that ended the previous school year two months early across the country, Weston County School District No. 1 Superintendent Brad LaCroix reported that preliminary enrollment numbers in the three schools are similar to 2019-20 numbers. 
“We will know by mid-week official enrollment for the beginning of the year; we usually wait about 10 days,” LaCroix said. “That is how many days we leave them enrolled at the high school before they are dropped at the start of each school year.” 
During the Aug. 26 board of trustees meeting, Newcastle High School Principal Tracy Ragland reported that preliminary enrollment at the school was about 240. School secretary Diana McCormick confirmed on Tuesday, Sept. 1, that the school had 241 students enrolled. 
“That is kind of what we were expecting. It could change but right now that is where we are at,” Ragland told the school board. 
Last year, enrollment numbers were reported to be 237 at the high school, which was a decrease from previous years. Newcastle Middle School had also reported a decrease in enrollment during the 2019-20 school year with 182 students. 
According to school Principal Tyler Bartlett, 173 students were enrolled at the middle school on the first day of the 2020-21 school year. While the school did lose some students who left the district, he said, the school added several new students and others who transferred back to the district. 
Preliminary enrollment numbers at Newcastle Elementary School are similar to those reported in 2019 when the school had 391 students, school secretary Dawn Williams said. 
“We are not seeing a big decrease at this time because of COVID, at least not some of the drastic changes that other districts have seen,” LaCroix said. “Every student not enrolled is an impact though.”
According to LaCroix, the number of students enrolled determines the district’s funding, so the higher the enrollment numbers, the more money the schools have to operate on. 
Thankfully, LaCroix said, to date the school year has seen a similar number of students, so funding decreases shouldn’t cause an issue yet. As the school year progresses, and health orders surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic evolve and change, he said, enrollment numbers could change.