Schools
Elementary Enrollment Projections Continue to Drop
Number of students in grades K-5 across West Islip expected to decline for the 2013-14 school year.
The total number of West Islip School District students will drop below 5,000 in the 2013-14 school year, with much of the decline seen at the elementary level.
At this past Wednesday’s first budget work session, Superintendent Richard Simon outlined the continued decline in enrollment, and the impact on the school district’s budget.
During his presentation of the 2013-14 draft budget, Simon’s initial report showed a projection of 115 fewer students at the elementary level. The result could be six fewer elementary sections, with Bayview, Bellew and Manetuck possibly losing two sections each.
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The school district’s declining enrollment has been happening for more than a decade, and led to the closure of two elementary schools — Kirdahy and Westbrook — at the end of the 2011-12 school year. In the 2001-02 school year, 472 students entered Kindergarten. In September, that number is projected to be 283.
Enrollment levels at the middle school and high school level change little in the coming school year.
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Beach Street Middle School’s will have a total of 580 students, up three from this year, and Udall Road Middle School’s student population will decline 14 to 589 students. The high school will have 1,676 students in the 2013-14 school year, down 55 from the 2012-13 school year.
A breakdown of student enrollment at West Islip’s four elementary schools is below.
Bayview Elementary Enrollment No. of Sections Kindergarten 62 3 First Grade 56 3 Second Grade 71 3 Third Grade 80 4 Fourth Grade 58 3 Fifth Grade 76 3 Totals 403 19 Change from 2012-13 -26 students -2 sections Paul J. Bellew Elementary Enrollment No. of Sections Kindergarten 69 4 First Grade 64 3 Second Grade 81 4 Third Grade 81 4 Fourth Grade 105 4 Fifth Grade 80 3 Totals 480 22 Change from 2012-13 -22 students -2 sections Manetuck Elementary Enrollment No. of Sections Kindergarten 73 4 First Grade 100 5 Second Grade 89 4 Third Grade 91 4 Fourth Grade 100 4 Fifth Grade 95 4 Totals 548 25 Change from 2012-13 -38 students -2 sections Oquenock Elementary Enrollment No. of Students Kindergarten 69 4 First Grade 76 4 Second Grade 67 3 Third Grade 84 4 Fourth Grade 93 4 Fifth Grade 90 4 Totals 479 23 Change from 2013-14 -29 students no changeGet more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
