Canon-McMillan enrollment seen rising to record figure
With the new school year just weeks away, Canon-McMillan School District projected its enrollment will continue to grow, rising to a record level of nearly 5,300 students.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Chambers said during the school board agenda meeting Thursday 196 students enrolled in the school district since May.
“Of course, a percentage of kids withdraw, too, but I don’t think it’s going to be 195 students,” said Chambers.
The largest increases occurred at the first- and ninth-grade levels, where the school district picked up 45 and 32 students, respectively.
The growth continues a more than decade-long trend of enrollment increases.
Chambers said the school district’s enrollment was 4,201 in 2004, when the district completed construction of North Strabane and Cecil intermediate schools and renovations at the high school.
The district attributes growth to oil and gas industry development in Washington County and infrastructure improvements in North Strabane and Cecil townships.
“When you consider the housing developments in those townships, the jobs in Southpionte, and the energy development in the area, those are all contributors. This is a desirable place for people to live,” said Chambers.
The school district is completing construction of a new elementary building, which will replace three elementary schools: Cecil, First Street and Muse.
Class sizes at the new elementary school fall within the appropriate range, so additional teachers are not necessary, but Chambers said the school district is monitoring enrollment there.
Future capital improvement projects – aimed at addressing aging facilities, offering new programming and dealing with swelling enrollment – include construction of a new middle school and expansion at the high school.
In 2014, the school district hired Stewman Demographics to predict enrollment growth in order to plan construction projects.
In the fall, Shelby Stewman, of Stewman Demographics, will review those findings to ensure the school district constructs a middle school that meets student growth.
“We’d like to make sure that we are aware of any current trends to make sure we’re building the right-sized school for the middle school when we break ground in 2019,” said Chambers. “It’s all about right-sizing. We’d like to get that work done ahead of finalizing plans for what the middle school will look like.”