Numbers higher in Wayne schools
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 28, 2011 1:50 AM
Wayne County Public Schools officials reported a smooth transition back to classes at its 31 schools.
While several schools had already resumed earlier, the bulk of students returned on Thursday.
Enrollment is up from the same time last year, with 18,296 students, as compared to 18,147 in 2010.
For the most part, numbers were consistent with the previous year, although a handful had marked increases and some schools in the northern end reported drops.
Dillard Middle had 71 more students than last year's first day, although for that school it was actually the third day, since classes started on Tuesday. Enrollment there was 549, compared to 478 last year.
Brogden Primary had 59 more students at the start of school, 728 compared to 669 the previous year.
Carver Elementary in Mount Olive also went up, from 560 to 602.
Goldsboro and Eastern Wayne high schools also had more students, although GHS likewise had begun classes on Tuesday.
At GHS, there were 438 students enrolled on the first day last year, 494 this year.
Eastern Wayne had a 25-student increase, from 999 to 1,024.
Numbers at Tommy's Road Elementary School dropped this year by 61 students. On the first day in 2010, there were 653 students enrolled. This year there were 592.
Eastern Wayne Middle also dipped by 56, from 617 to 561.
The variation is typical, though, officials said, and enrollment tends to steadily rise with each passing day of a new school year.
The first 10 days of school are when officials look at numbers, as shifts occur around the district and new families relocate, usually through the military or moves across the county, as well as students coming from areas where the school year typically starts later.
The "10-day numbers" are significant, officials said, because that is how the state determines funding needs and teacher assignments.
In 2010, the district started out with 18,147 students. Over the following nine days, enrollment climbed to 19,229 students. That is expected to hold true again this year.