Enrollment dips at CL schools

Enrollment in the Clear Lake School District slipped 26.64 students in 2013-14, reports Superintendent Anita Micich.

The school leader shared enrollment numbers with the School Board during a November work session.  The current certified enrollment for 2013-2014,  as of Oct. 1, is 1,236.70, she reported. 

“We are down 26.65 students, however our open enrollment numbers are down 34.50 and we graduated a large class last year so this was anticipated,” said Micich.

The open enrollment decline was anticipated due to the sharing agreement between Ventura and Garner-Hayfield which started in 2012.  At that time, the Clear Lake district saw a spike in open enrollment due to Ventura students choosing between the Ventura/Garner-Hayfield schools and Clear Lake.  In the 2013-14 report Clear Lake shows 132 students are currently open-enrolled into the district.  In 2012, open enrollment into the district was 144.

The district stemmed the tide of open enrolling out of the district.  That number dropped from 103.5 out in 2012 to 69 in 2013-14.

The enrollment decline was also affected by a large graduating class.  Diplomas were awarded to 124 members of Clear Lake’s graduating class of 2013.  Thankfully this year’s incoming kindergarten class was also relatively large, at 112.

“At this point in time we have not had discussions about teacher positions and these are currently in line with our enrollments over the past five years,” said Micich.