Most area schools either maintained their numbers or enjoyed slight increases in enrollment this fall.

Sidney experienced an overall drop of eight students from 1,099 at the end of last school year to currently 1,091. Sidney High School’s enrollment dropped from 379 to 369.

Sidney Superintendent of Schools Daniel Farr said projections for the enrollment came out pretty much true. There were few surprises. “At least, we’re somewhat stabilized,” Farr said. “K-12 wise our enrollment is pretty much where we projected it to be at.”

Growth came in the elementary grades (k-5) with 468 students now compared to 457 last year. The middle school grades, however, are down from 263 to 254, so the elementary district has a net gain of two students.

The largest current class in Sidney is the seventh grade with 100 students. There are three classes with 90 plus students in the high school. After that, the largest class is 86 at first grade.

The number of students is critical because state funding is based on enrollment.

Projections show that Sidney’s enrollment numbers should remain about the same for at least the next three years. Of course, an enrollment increase is preferred, but being stable helps Sidney’s school officials when planning budgets. “At least you can anticipate what will happen,” Farr said.

Lambert schools was one on the positive end of figures. The school increased by a total of 10 students, from 77 at the end of last school year to 87. Lambert increased from 35 to 38 in elementary, 14 to 18 in junior high and 28 to 31 in high school.

In Fairview, the elementary district number of 159 is up by 15 over a year ago. The high school figure of 104 is down by six.

“We’re holding steady,” Fairview Superintendent of Schools Matt Schriver said.

Fairview’s kindergarten class features 28 students so another teacher needed to be hired.

Culbertson, meanwhile, enjoyed an increase of 20 students overall as the total enrollment went from 254 to 274. Culbertson’s figures include 139 elementary students, 43 in junior high and 92 in high school.

Culbertson Superintendent of Schools Larry Crowder is pleased with a kindergarten class of 27 students. Last school year’s graduating class was 17.

“What we like is a good elementary population, those numbers should carry through,” Crowder said.

Richey saw a slight increase with 48 elementary (k-8) students and 30 high school students. The figures are up by two in the elementary and five in the high school.

Savage’s enrollment remained close to steady with 42 elementary, 22 junior high and 29 high school students for a total of 93 students. Savage dropped just a couple students in the high school level.

Bainville’s enrollment is four less overall than last year with 62 in the elementary, 15 in junior high and 36 in the high school for 113 total.

Enrollment for Rau Elementary School is 64 compared to 68 at the end of last school year. The school district, however, had only 54 at the start of last school year.

Brorson Elementary School’s enrollment increased to 10 students.

Enrollment at East Fairview Elementary increased from 47 students to 52 students.

editor@sidneyherald.com