PCSS Enrollment Numbers Up Almost 4 Percent From Last Year

Initial enrollment numbers for Putnam County Schools indicate the student population is returning to normal.

Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said compared to the end of school last year, an additional 450 students have arrived.

“It does seem that there are many students that have returned from a homeschool type enrollment back to the traditional school setting,” Pierce said. “The pace of the forms turned into our office has not been near as brisk.”

Pierce said families moving into the area have also helped bring the population to about 12,100 students. Pierce said grades K-3 have seemed to grow the most.

“That number is relatively close to the same number that we had back in March of 2020 before the COVID shut down,” Pierce said.

Pierce said enrollment usually increases about two percent, but the most recent numbers show a 3.8 percent climb this year. At the beginning of school in 2020, Putnam County was down to about 11,100 students and ended the year with 11,600.

“Our elementary schools are holding steady,” Pierce said. “Everyone is gaining some, but it is a good pace. It looks to be a steady growth. We are monitoring student to teacher ratios daily. There is a process the schools go through to take out any students who have not shown yet.”

Pierce said once that process ends next week, a more accurate student number will be available. Pierce said the numbers provided now are based off of PowerSchool.

“A healthy student population in the long run really does help everyone to benefit,” Pierce said. “With more students comes more funding. More funding provides more resources, more teachers, more programs and more things to offer for families.”