Clovis, Portales enrollment down slightly

Clovis Municipal Schools and Portales Municipal Schools experienced a decrease in enrollment this school year, according to preliminary numbers.

Meanwhile, Clovis Christian Schools had a slight increase.

CNJ staff photo: Benna Sayyed

Clovis Christian High School teacher Glenna Hagee gives her French students a lesson Tuesday on common conversational language and numbers. The district increased by five students this year.

After four straight years of increases, Clovis Municipal Schools' enrollment was 8,675 on Monday, a drop of 185 students (2 percent, according to Cindy Martin, deputy superintendent of instruction for Clovis Municipal Schools.

Elementary, middle and high schools all showed decreases.

"We were down a little in 2005 and down a little in 2007 but the district grew a little every year between 2008 and 2011."

Martin attributes the decrease to local dairy closures this year and military families moving in and out of Cannon Air Force Base.

In Portales, enrollment dropped by 36 students (1.21 percent) to 2,973.

Portales Municipal Schools Superintendent Randy Fowler said enrollment in his district is down to where it was two years ago.

"We can look at our student withdrawals," Fowler said. "The majority of the students moved to different districts either in or out of the state. We've tried to see if there is a pattern there and we don't see one."

Fowler said enrollment impacts the district's state funding.

"Normally if your funding is consistent and the number of students drops, your funding drops," Fowler said.

Fowler hopes his district will receive slow and steady growth in enrollment throughout the next five years.

At Clovis Christian, enrollment increased by five students to 227.

Clovis Christian Schools Superintendent Ladona Clayton said her district experienced growth at the kindergarten and first-grade levels.

She said the district added a second kindergarten class and first grade is filled to capacity.

Clayton attributes student growth to the school's accreditation, a growing sports program and accelerated academic programs that integrate new technology.

"We individualize and create a tailor-made program for every student at CCS," Clayton said.

"I think that has been a key seller to families in our community. Also, every single one of our varsity sports teams competed at the state level last year."

Clayton believes enrollment will continue to grow in the future and has a goal of enrolling 500 students.

Official enrollment numbers are turned into the state in mid-October.

Fasts facts

A comparison of student enrolment numbers from 2011 and 2012 (2011 numbers are preliminary):

District 2011 2012 +/- %

Clovis 8,860 8,675 -2.0

Portales 2,973 2,937 -1.21

CCS 222 227 +2.25