District expects 500+ students
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany ISD is expecting just over 500 students at the start of this school year, about the number the district ended with in May.
Following “Meet the Teacher” sessions at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the Albany Junior/Senior High campuses on Monday evening, local administrators were looking for a total of 501 total students to show up for classes yesterday for the first day of school.
According to Leigh Lowe, Director of Student Services, the number enrolled at the junior high/senior high campus as of Tuesday was 243, compared to 228 on the last day of classes in May. The elementary numbers were 258 on Tuesday, compared to 278 at the end of school in May.
“We are right at the same number with 501 students expected for the first day of classes,” Lowe said. “That is a good number for us since our goal was 500.”
She is optimistic that the numbers will hold after the semester starts.
“It always seems like we have few who register but don’t show up on the first day for various reasons,” she said. “It is of course important for us to keep our enrollment numbers up to maximize funding from the state that is based on average daily attendance (ADA).”
The district reported 503 students on the first day of classes in 2020; however, 16 of those registered as remote learners due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Albany is not offering remote classes this school year.
“We are still hoping that we have a few stragglers who show up on Wednesday for the first day of class,” she said. “They still have to go through the online enrollment process, but we will be available to help them navigate signing up when they get here.”
Lowe said that a parent must accompany each student still needing to enroll, and those new to the district will have to provide documentation to determine if they indeed live in the district.
“We have to go through a verification process with people who are new to the district,” Lowe said. “At this point they need to go to the principal’s office at the appropriate campus to get signed up.”
Enrollment numbers have traditionally been higher at thea elementary level, but this year that number is down while the secondary campus if higher.
The fluctuation is due to lower than normal enrollment in Head Start and Pre-K, plus a large class of sixth graders promoted to the secondary campus.
NSES administrative assistant Stephanie Gleitz said on Tuesday that there are 17 students enrolled in Head Start, but only 10 in the Pre-K class that is open to both three- and four-year olds.
Students in either program must qualify based on income or special needs.
Few Changes Noted
Both campuses will be using the same start times as last year. The elementary tardy bell will ring at 7:55 a.m., while classes will start at 8:00 a.m. at the secondary school.
Students can be dropped off at the elementary school starting at 7:30 a.m., which is also when the cafeteria opens for breakfasts. Students must go through the serving line by 7:45 a.m.
At the secondary campus, the doors open at 7:35 a.m. along with the cafeteria for breakfast.
A change has been made in scheduling WIN time at the secondary school, moving from after lunch to after second period on Mondays through Thursdays.
“We put WIN time after lunch last year and allowed the seniors not to return for it in order to keep the number of students on campus to a minimum due to COVID-19,” principal Glen Hill said. “This year it has moved to the morning between 9:40 a.m. and 10:05 a.m. so we can provide intervention to all students who did not pass one or more of the EOC tests last spring.”
