Based on preliminary figures, enrollment is up in two of Lyon County’s three school districts.
Wednesday was the day for Kansas school districts to collect their enrollment data for the 2006-2007 school year. The enrollment numbers, collected each year on Sept. 20, will be audited by the state before the numbers are official. The certified enrollment will be used by the state to determine the amount of funding to be given to each district.
In the Emporia School district, Nancy Horst, director of community relations, said head count was up a little bit from last year. Head count is the actual count of students in the classrooms. This year’s head count is 4,985, compared to last year’s 4,910.
Horst said this morning that the district has yet to determine this year’s full-time equivalency, or FTE. FTE is a calculation of all school hours put by all students, divided by the number of hours required for full-time attendance. In other words, two half-time students equal one FTE. The FTE number is the number that is used by the state for funding purposes. Last year, Emporia’s FTE was 4,514. This year’s budget was based on a projected FTE of 4,535.
Horst said once numbers are sent into the state department of education they will be audited. Horst anticipated a small change after an audit.
In North Lyon County, Judy Mundy, board clerk, said that district also has had a small increase in enrollment this year. Last year’s head count was 564. This year’s is 580. This year’s FTE is 561. Last year’s FTE was 555.7. The 2006-2007 budget for North Lyon County was based on a three-year FTE average of 562.1.
In Southern Lyon County, Superintendent Mike Argabright said enrollment is down from last year. This year’s head count is at 600. Last year’s was 611. This year’s FTE is 558.5. Last year’s FTE and the FTE this year’s budget is based on were not available by press time.