The number of students at Mount Vernon and Lisbon Schools are both up this year compared to last year.
Mount Vernon saw enrollment increase from 1,428 last year to 1,448 this year.
Superintendent Greg Batenhorst said that there were no significant increases or decreases to any one grade.
“I would classify enrollment for the district as steady, with a trend to slow growth,” Batenhorst said. “I believe this is the pattern the district will continue to experience for the next five years, as the birth rates are predicted to remain flat to slightly down.”
Batenhorst did note with housing development continuing to pick-up in the Mount Vernon in that same time frame, there could be chances for enrollment to increase.
“We are definitely seen as an exemplary district of choice for families,” Batenhorst said.
Batenhorst said in reporting to the state, the district shows they are up 12 students from last year.
“Our resident enrollment dropped by 15 students, but our open enrollment in grew by 27 students,” Batenhorst said. “The 1,448 total of students is the highest enrollment we’ve had in the past 10 years.”
The district’s certified enrollment count shows an increase to 1,369.22 compared to 1,357.20 from last year, a 12.02 student increase. Certified enrollment is one portion of what determines a district’s funding, with an increase giving a district more spending authority for future school years.
Lisbon
Lisbon’s enrollment count for the 2023-24 school year was also up this year from 727 last year to 768 this year, an increase of roughly 41 students.
A good majority of the higher numbers came from Lisbon’s preschool students, which was up 15 from last year at the same time frame. The district also kept several of their incoming kindergarten class from last year to first grade.
Superintendent Autumn Pino said the district has been able to anticipate growth and plan accordingly.
“For example, this year we knew that it was time for us to hire an additional fifth grade teacher to preserve classroom ratios and maximize sections for future growth,” Pino said. “One of the things we continue to notice in our growth pattern is we are seeing steady interest by families in early elementary.”
Pino said that there are not any grades where they need to focus on the low student to teacher ratios.
“We have been fortunate enough to have a Board who supports the hiring of additional teaching staff when our leadership team presents a need,” Pino said. “Each year, we begin evaluating instructional needs for the following year during the first semester. We make projections and begin conversations early on to ensure that we are making sound decisions that are in the best interest of our students and fiscally responsible.”
She notes that Lisbon will hopefully see an increase in enrollment in the future, thanks to students high performance in academics and opportunities for students to thrive outside the classroom.
“We have a lot to be excited about,” Pino said. “One of our most immediate priorities is our facilities expansion project which incorporates the needs and desires of a wide range of stakeholders in our community. Examples of the scope of this facilities plan include a Career and Technical Education (CTE) addition, additional classrooms to account for growth, a renovated commons area to better accommodate gathering space for activities and concessions, and a new weight room that will enhance our physical education courses and athletic programs.”
Lisbon again saw an increased growth in certified enrollment as well, increasing 10.3 students this year, going from 671.8 last year to 682.1 this year.