Albany enrollment just over 500 students

By Donnie A. Lucas

Albany ISD has registered just over 500 students for the 2022-23 school year for the third time in as many years.

As of Monday, Aug. 22, the district was reporting a total of 502 students, with three more still expected to enroll late.

“Enrollment went very well,” said Leigh Lowe, director of student services. “All but five of our students were preregistered before the first day of classes last Wednesday using our online process.”

This is the second year that the district has conducted registration using the Ascender Parent Portal.

“The parents who used the system last year were already familiar with the process and reported very few problems this year,” Lowe said. “There were just a few parents who needed assistance to complete the process.”

A total of 262 students were on the roster as of Monday at the elementary campus, down by just three students at the start of classes last year.

The number of students at the secondary campus was also down slightly from 240 this year compared to 243 last year.

“We always expect slight changes each year from class to class,” Lowe said. “We were hoping for 500 to 510 this year, and we seem to be on target.”

Currently, the four high school grades total at 163, while the junior high is sitting at 77.

“Our four largest classes are eighth through eleventh, with all of those over 40 students,” Lowe said. “The senior class stayed about the same with 34 students this year.”

She noted that enrollment for the 2022-23 school year could total over 170 students based on this year’s figures.

The breakdowns at the secondary campus as of Monday are as follows: seventh grade 34, eighth grade 43, ninth grade 44, 10th grade 44, 11th grade 41, and 12th grade 34.

Enrollment totals for high school for next year will be used to determine UIL classifications. While Albany is well in the middle of the pack to remain in Class 2A, the total in high school next year could be a factor in determining the separation between Division I and Division II classification for football.

Currently, the dividing point for small and large school in Class 2A football is 164.5 students.

At the elementary school, enrollment by grade level is as follows: 26 for Pre-K and Head Start, 35 for kindergarten, 31 for both second and third grades, 32 for third grade, 38 for fourth grade, and 34 for both fifth and sixth grades.

A large portion of funding from the state of Texas is based on the percentage of students in attendance on a daily basis.

“We are glad to see stable enrollment numbers, but daily attendance is how the state calculates funding,” Lowe said. “Therefore, it is really important that attendance stays at a high percentage on a daily basis.”

Lowe said that enrollment could still fluctuate, but it has usually stabilized by mid-September.