Putnam County Schools seeing a slight decrease in students two weeks into the school year.
Attendance and Enrollment Management Supervisor Chris Pierce said some 11,518 students currently enrolled. Pierce said enrollment down some 310 students district wide a year ago.
“Those could be as simple as normal movement from county to county looking for housing,” Pierce said. “Finding the best deals on homes, those normal movement patterns. Also, there could be some kind of increase in the homeschooling options.”
Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy said his numbers declined each of the last two years, but some 100 or 110 kids have returned to the district this year. Currently, 1,388 students are enrolled in the Jackson County school system.
“By far, we’ve lost the most kids over the last few years to homeschool,” Hardy said. “We have several of those kids coming back. So, I think we’re just seeing a lot of families have tried other things, and for whatever reason,now they’re re-enrolling their kids back into public schools. And we’re happy to have them.”
Overton County Director of Schools Kim Dillon said enrollment in her district to start the year is similar to where it was at the end of last year, but down slightly from a year ago. She said from May to August, there has been a slight increase, which is normal.
White County Schools Supervisor of Attendance Bryan Haley said total enrollment at White County is consistent with last year. Haley said there has not been an influx one way or anther, but he is optimistic about the total enrollment of some 3,673.
Pierce said the district will continue enrolling students until December, so Putnam County’s numbers are still not concrete. Pierce said he expects the number to increase leading to the expected high water mark in December.
Dillon said she thinks people are starting to come back to in-person learning. She said the enrollment in her district does not account for the new virtual option Overton County is offering this year.
“Typically, you have a lot of people coming in and out between now and Labor Day,” Dillon said. “Maybe trying to figure out if they want to try coming back to in-person, or do they want to remain home schooled. Some are moving in, some are moving out. I don’t like to get a true picture until after Labor Day.”
Since it is still early, Haley said he is unable to determine why there is little change in enrollment this year. Haley said enrollment typically ebbs and flows over the first few weeks of the school year as students move in and out.
