School enrollment continues to drop

Despite apparent growth in local communities, enrollment continues to drop in the San Juan School District. October 1 enrollment figures show a drop of 26 students over the previous year, from 2,871 on October 1, 2006 to 2,845 on October 1, 2007.

The drop continues a multi-year trend, which has seen enrollment in the sprawling district fall from a high of 3,481 on October 1, 1996. This represents a drop of nearly 20 percent over an 11-year period.

The number of students in Monticello-area schools actually grew from 629 in 2006 to 644 in 2007, a two percent increase.

The number of students in Blanding-area schools dropped from 1,233 in 2006 to 1,207 in 2007, a two percent decrease.

The number of students in Montezuma Creek-area schools dropped from 574 in 2006 to 559 in 2007, a three percent decrease.

The number of students in Monument Valley-area schools grew from 389 in 2006 to 396 in 2007, a two percent increase.

The number of students in Navajo Mountain-area schools dropped from 46 in 2006 to 39 in 2007, an 18 percent decrease.

The San Juan School Board discussed a range of enrollment issues at the October 10 board meeting in Navajo Mountain.

Statistics show that the average class size at area schools vary widely and are influenced, in part, by the number of federal programs and special education students.

The average class size in area secondary schools range from 17.86 students in Monticello to 6.25 in Navajo Mountain. The average class size in secondary schools is 16.5 in Blanding, 14.76 in Monument Valley and 14.46 in Montezuma Creek.

In elementary schools, the average class size ranges from 21.07 students in Monticello to 9.63 in Bluff. The average class size in elementary schools is 17.07 in Blanding, 14.96 in Mexican Hat and 16 in Montezuma Creek.

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