HS enrollment numbers up in Abilene, Brownwood
Transfers into Brownwood ISD
Bangs: 27 (15 last year)
Early: 45 (20 last year)
Blanket: 8 (2 last year)
Brookesmith: 27 (11 last year)
Other: 30 (8 last year)
Notes: Abilene ISD is still processing request
“Other” includes May, Santa Anna, Coleman, Zephyr, Mullin, Richland Springs, Comanche ISDs
Source: Brownwood ISD
School enrollment numbers are rolling in, and unexpected increases seem to be continuing for a second year in Brownwood and Abilene school districts after a decade of dropping enrollment.
Abilene Independent School District’s new administrators don’t want to release early enrollment numbers because they fear they are too volatile, but Superintendent Heath Burns said they give “evidence for optimism.” Abilene ISD had more than 19,000 students in 1999 and declined steadily over the past decade — until last fall when about 400 more showed up to bring enrollment above 16,800.
On Monday, Brownwood ISD reported a first-day enrollment boost of 73 students from the end of last year, which can be partially attributed to an increase in the number of students living outside the district transferring into BISD schools. That’s much more modest than last year’s 4 percent growth, but still significant considering the steady drop of 12.2 percent in the last 10 years.
Wylie ISD is continuing its slow, steady growth with about 53 more students at school Monday compared to last year’s first day, for an increase of 1.62 percent. All that growth can be attributed to new families moving into the area because Wylie ISD doesn’t allow transfers.
“We always feel good about a little growth, and that’s definitely manageable,” said Wylie ISD Superintendent Joey Light.
The reasons for growth in some of the Big Country’s bigger cities is tough to pin down but match up with recently released population data.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this summer reveal Abilene’s population grew by 1,250 people — a 1.1 percent increase from 2000 to 2009. Most of that growth occurred between 2008 and 2009.
While Abilene showed slight growth, a review of 51 Big Country cities and towns shows a 1.3 percent decline in population between the 2000 census and population estimates for July 2009 that were recently released.
“I know our smaller districts are losing students,” said Ronnie Kincaid, executive director of Region 14 Education Service Center, which covers a large portion of the Big Country. “It’s logical to think that could be the result if some of our bigger districts are gaining students.”
BISD officials attribute a combination of factors for the growth. Brownwoodisd.org suggests top reasons are laptops for every student starting in the eighth grade, expanded high school career tracks, dual credit opportunities with Howard Payne University, newly renovated campuses and a public awareness campaign.
Abilene ISD officials declined to offer insight into this year’s growth and offer little explanation for last year’s increase.
Cooper High School Principal Gail Gregg surmised Cooper’s growth last year was due to more Advanced Placement classes at Cooper that are not offered in many rural districts, fine arts opportunities, and Dyess Air Force Base housing “filling up again.” This year, he was unsure if he would see the same increase.
While some of Abilene’s surrounding districts, such as Merkel and Eula, have seen declines in recent years, Merkel stayed steady as Abilene ISD grew this year. Also, districts south of Abilene have stayed steady, such as Jim Ned CISD, which actually grew 4.5 percent in the last five years.
Around Brownwood ISD, Zephyr ISD has grown 13.4 percent in the last five years, while May ISD has declined.
Kincaid believes special programs such as Brownwood ISD’s laptop initiatives and Abilene ISD’s magnet high school programs for engineering or medical students could be key to drawing more students, but nothing is clear.
“When it just gets down to it, you just don’t know why people are moving,” he said.
— Carl Kieke contributed to this report.
Similar Posts:
- Graduate School Applications from International Students on the Rise
- No local school districts considering asking for property tax increases
- Influx of military families helps school districts’ budgets
- Northern Michigan University raises tuition
- AISD opens budget talks, pay freezes discussed
