Tecumseh Public Schools enrollment drops, other area schools hold steady

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

On Wednesday of last week, school districts throughout the State of Michigan entered their September school counts. The state takes a count in September and blends that with the previous February’s count to determine the amount of per pupil funding school districts receive. The September count holds the bulk of the weight, being 75 percent of the blend with last February’s count weighing in at 25 percent of the count. Preliminary September counts were released this week.

Early counts for Tecumseh are 3,012. Last year the district counted 3,064 students in September. While the district anticipated a lower count than last year, last Wednesday’s count came in lower than the Tecumseh School District budgeted for. Still, Supt. Mike McAran said the amount of the decrease is leveling off from previous years. “It’s the lowest drop we’ve had in a long time,” he said.

Clinton and Britton are holding steady, while Deerfield is down by 36 students. Clinton Supt. David Pray had anticipated the district would lose about 80 students this year. Pray said he surveyed the students last year to get an idea of how many students might be leaving the district. While the count came in at 1,122, which is four students lower than last year, it is much higher than anticipated.

Pray did say that as many as 50 residential students moved out of the district, but that more Schools of Choice students enrolled this year. The district counted 38 Schools of Choice students.

“It’s very good,” said Pray. “It’s [students moving out of the district] kind of a problem all of us are facing in this county. Residents leaving the county doesn’t surprise me with the economy, I just wish there was an answer.”

Britton’s count came in at 542, which is up one student from last year. The count was made separately from Deerfield, although the schools are under shared services agreement. They will become one school next year. Deerfield’s fall count was 271, which is 36 students fewer than last year. Supt. Pelham said that the Deerfield drop was attributed to fewer than expected migrant students enrolling in the school this year. He is, however, pleased overall with the count. He expected decreases because of the Britton Deerfield school consolidation.

“I think it shows that there is a lot of confidence in the school, and people are pleased with what we are doing,” he said.