The Prairie Rose School Division meets Tuesday afternoon in Dunmore (Photo by Bob Schneider)

By Charles Lefebvre

Prairie Rose School Division reports increased enrolment compared to projections

Oct 8, 2019 | 5:20 PM

DUNMORE, AB — Prairie Rose School Division is reporting a slight increase in the number of students enrolled at its schools this year, compared to earlier predictions.

During its board meeting Tuesday afternoon, the school presented its updated enrolment numbers for the 2019-2020.

The division is reporting 3,015 students as of September 30 up from 3,002 predicted during the spring.

Ryan Boser, secretary/treasurer with the school division, says the division was expecting to lose 18.5 full time students this year, and says the increase is fantastic.

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“Ultimately, we’re going to get some more revenues as a result of this, and more money that we can put into the system,” he said on Tuesday.

Boser says school divisions typically receive $9,600 per students in instructional funding. The additional students could result in Prairie Rose receiving an additional $125,000.

When compared to the actual enrolment from last year as of September 30, there are 5.5 fewer full-time equivalent students in the school division.

In recent years, Prairie Rose has been struggling with lower enrolment, especially in the rural schools. Boser says teachers and the division have been working hard to provide opportunities for students in the division, and say new academy programs, allowing students to learn about hockey and aviation while going to school, have helped keep students in the division.

Boser also praised the staff for their help in teaching students and running the new academies.

“Different programming that we’re putting out in the different schools, and the amazing work our teachers are doing around developing literacy and different learning goals we have, they’re doing an amazing job out there,” he said. “And that’s ultimately helping with where our numbers are staying status quo.”

According to the report, Burdett School saw the biggest increase in attendance. The division was predicting 176.5 full-time students, but reported 212.6 full time students.

Foremost School saw the biggest decrease, with a total of 158 students enrolled as of September 30, down 16 from what was projected.

The colony schools in the division reported 284 students, matching the projected number from the spring.