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School population steady despite apparent exodus
First day at Nags Head Elementary. (DCS)
Data presented by Dare County Schools Superintendent Sue Burgess, however, indicates the school population is not only holding its own, but also growing slightly.
The 10-day enrollment figure, the official start of the year statistically, shows 4,919 students registered in grades K-12.
State budgeting to distribute funds to counties is based on a projection of students. School systems must meet or exceed that projection to receive the full funding allocated by the state.
Burgess reported Dare County exceeded that number. The 2012-13 enrollment represents a gain of 47 students from 2011, and is also higher than the 4,880 students enrolled prior to the local recession.
Adding in Pre-K students, Dare’s total enrollment this year is 5,045.
English as a Second Language (ESL) continues to grow, again differing from public perceptions that much of the Spanish-speaking population left during the recession. This year, 318 students are classified as ESL, a 60 percent increase from 2006-07 school year.
The school system reports 1,989 riders this year, using 40 buses and covering 1,989 miles of road. Using double runs for some vehicles has resulted in fewer buses required.
Burgess also reported that eligibility for free and reduced price meals stood at 47.6 percent of the student population — double the percentage six years ago.
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ekim says:
N H elementry is a white elephant, I dont care what any one says, The K H elementry is empty ask the PARENTS!
...... says:
please break these numbers down by school so we can see the whole picture
G says:
47% on free and reduced price meals. I’ve seen that number somewhere before …
chaser says:
What you saying G, that the elderly, veterans, and those who pay payroll tax but not income tax sometimes might need a discounted or free meal, or just that they are lazy freeloaders. You do know Bishop Willard’s dad was on welfare are one point, right?
Neckster says:
So let see a increase in ESL pupils and a increase in meal plans…and your willing to say we are seing increase in students . Can you be my account looks like you can present number any way you want to . The schools are empty period….just go to them…
Ray Midgett says:
There is something very curious about the free and reduced percentage of school lunches in Dare County doubling in the past six years. Dare County is one of the richest counties in NC and just a few years ago had less than one in five children qualifiying for these meals. I would like for someone to explain this huge increase. As the Carolina Journal reported a couple years ago, there is a great deal of abuse within this program because the federal government will only allow schools to require verification for less than one in ten applications. In short, the program stinks…and you and I are paying out the nose for it..
KHer says:
1989 bus riding students…
1989 miles covered by the buses…
Really?
OBX Resident says:
Manteo Elementary was over capacity when it opened, and now it is several hundred students over capacity. Students are eating lunch at 1.30 and 2 in the afternoon. Classes are over crowded. What is the Board odd Education’s solution….nothing but tal for all of these years, no plan. NH and Kitty Hawk are well below capacity.
junkman says:
I agree with ….says. We need the details by school.
This article lacks depth.
Ana says:
Ekim, are you kidding? KH school’s enrollment is up. They had to hire three new teachers and form three extra classes this year (first, second and third grades).
Civil discourse says:
Most of those 47% are children of the working poor, who in this community supply most of the service jobs(housecleaning, maintenance, wait and kitchen staff, etc.) that our tourist industry rely s on. This is the sad reality of too many of our children. At least they have a great school system to go too-hopefully then they will be able to get the great education that all children deserve.
G says:
@chaser – I said nothing to disparage those folks.
I’m just saying that the 47% number is in line with the national number that Romney spoke of. It’s interesting.
Mike says:
I have a feeling alot of the free and reduced price lunches are a result of people working under the table and not reporting the income. For one of the richest counties in the state it is a sham(e) that we see these numbers. There is not 47.6% of low income housing/neighborhoods feeding Nags Head Elementary nor the other Dare County schools as a whole. I am not a rich person, but hard working, tax paying, proud parent who does and pays his share. No free lunch for my son at NH.
chaser says:
Mike…There is nothing wrong if your son did get a free or discounted lunch at school.
OBX Resident says:
I typed the earlier message from my phone with typos. My point is that Manteo Elementary is over capacity. From the day it opened it was over capacity. The Board of Education failed to plan for the student population in Manteo, and they continue to do nothing to solve the problem as the population continues to grow. The Board has no plan and they are failing our students. There are options: 1. Bus students to the beach. 2. Shift the fourth grade from Manteo to the Middle School where there is room. They have proposed to build 8 new classrooms at MES, but this does not ease the stress on the lunchroom and other core areas of the school. This should be one of the main issues for Board members especially those representing Roanoke Island.
Perry White says:
Iif Manteo Elementary has too many students and Nags Head Elementary has too few, send some of Manteo’s kids to Nags Head. Can’t. Because they might have to cross the bridge? How about the Nags Head Kids that have to go to Manteo for Middle and High School – they don’t have to cross a bridge?
yes says:
I’d like to see the numbers from the elementary school on Hatteras Island. From what i understand the numbers have been in decline. I’d like to see the enrollment figures for the past 5 years to get a better look at the whole picture.
Neckster says:
This really is a note on our current economy . We say there is a rise in students and really there is a rise in lower income students to our schools . i have no issue with that at all ,but to state we are on the rise in this action is doing a missjustice . This along with all other location in the country are no on. The outer Banks along with the rest of the country is struggling period . Yes we will get through it , but how do you write a article like this…There is no rise anywhere except in benefits provided by the goverment….
Ana says:
I think that 47% on free/reduced lunches does not sound too high. True, Dare county is a rich county compared to many others. But most wealthy people here are older people, retires, baby boomers, with no kids of school age. A lot of younger people, even if they hold professional jobs make less than they would in Raleigh, or Virginia Beach, or any other major city.
Simple Jenny says:
eKim, Maybe you should go back to school to learn how to spell elementary.
comeon says:
To Russ, writer of this article: Could you please go back and do a little more in depth study into this subject. I think a lot of people would like to see the break down by school.
Rob Morris says:
We’re working on a followup.
Miss Faith says:
The 1-in-10 Varification stat that Ray Midgett mentioned is what keeps hard working, NATURAL BORN Citizens from receiving State and National program benefits for OUR children. You know, those of us that have to drive cars until they can’t go another foot or have no health care insurance because our $10-11-12/hour paychecks just can’t cover it all. I wish someone would HONESTLY address THAT issue. Instead, they hem and haw about bringing Roanoke kids out here to the beach (you know – the other side of the moon) to level out the school populations? Where were they in the bygone days when KH Elementary was the only school over here and all others were in Manteo? Those poor kids were on buses for hours! NH is, what, 15-20 minutes? All in all, I feel that we really need to think long and hard about which local representation we vote for in November – we need folks in office that keep us and our children’s best interests in mind – remember the ones that CAN vote for them. So sorry if I sound angry, folks. I’m just a struggling mom that’s tired of so much time and energy being put towards “no-brainer” fixes and the blind eye turned on the system that everyone knows is broken. Those that need a legitimate helping hand once in a while can’t get it because of those that have figured out how to benefit from the bureaucratical loop holes.
flo says:
Please tell me some of you posters do not have a problem with feeding the children! If their parents are working “under the table” or not it should be no big deal. I want my tax dollars to go to better education and feeding the children. KHES did add 3 new teachers. I wonder how some of you posters would react if your medicare and social security were cut. Let’s not harp on feeding the children!!!!
Miss Faith says:
My post has NOTHING to do with feeding the children – it is actually the fact that there are some children that also need the lunches that are ineligible. I’m a LONG way away from medicare and social security – by the time I get there there won’t be anything left! No, mam’am I live very much in the present and thank God everyday for the ability to scrape together a roof over my child’s head and food on his table because I am a 1-in-10 who’s income is varified and my CHILD SUPPORT is “too much” income – care to wager how far THAT goes?
D says:
Let’s feed them but can we please feed them real food? Seriously has anyone eaten a school lunch lately – yuck!