EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) – Eugene’s 4J School District has taken its first head count of students enrolled in their schools this year and the numbers are better than expected.
4J’s enrollment has been going down for the last five school years and the district expected numbers to go down again for the 2012 - 13 school year.
However, the first official numbers show this year's drop in students wasn't as much as the district projected.
Total, 4J has 15,474 students. The district expected about two hundred less than that.
So far, 4J has only lost 89 students this September, compared to last September.
Some schools are taking the brunt of the 'more than expected' student load. On the high school level, Churchill High has about one hundred more students than expected. Elementary wise, Spring Creek, Twin Oaks and Buena Vista have between 15 and 30 more students than expected.
More students is a positive thing for 4J.
“Doesn't actually mean that we actually get any more funding this year because of the way that state school funding works,= and should this change in enrollment pattern continue, would be positive financial news for the district,” says Kerry Delf, a spokeswoman for Eugene 4J.
The larger than normal student numbers means 4J will also need to hire a few more teachers. 4J says it’s still putting the finishing touches on how many positions it will post to fill the teaching jobs it needs. Many jobs will be part time.
The enrollment numbers will be presented to Eugene 4J’s School Board tonight, Wednesday, October 3=. The meeting starts at 7 PM, at the district offices at 200 North Monroe Street.
