No one would expect that two additional classrooms would help increase enrollment by almost 2-percent in the city school system.

The total number of student’s enrolled at all five schools was 3,423 students, 60 students more than fall 2008, when enrollment was 3,361.

But, Calhoun City Schools Superintendent Michele Taylor says the early childhood programs have helped boost overall enrollment numbers, among the five schools this fall.

“Forty students were added to pre-K due to the increase of two classrooms awarded from the Governor’s Office of ‘Bright From the Start’,” said Taylor.

“Even though we normally have a waiting list for the pre-K program, it’s hard to predict the next year’s kindergarten enrollment,” added Taylor.

Fall enrollment for Calhoun pre-K was 190 students, more than 40 students than fall 2008, when enrollment was 149 students.

“A lot of parents are interested in preparing their kids for kindergarten because they think this will help with future accomplishments,” said director of pre-K Michelle Knight.

“Because we’ve had such a huge waiting list, we now have 9 rooms,” added Knight.

Last fall, they had seven classrooms with 15 to 20 students in each classroom, and this year they have nine classrooms with 20 students in each classroom.

Still, Calhoun Primary has the most students. Fall enrollment for the primary school was 856 students, more than 50 students than fall 2008, when enrollment was 804 students.

The Georgia Department of Education does the first official full-time enrollment (FTE) count in October.

Calhoun High School Fall enrollment was 878 students, almost 26 students fewer than fall 2008, when enrollment was 904 students.

Calhoun High School principal Wanda Westmoreland isn’t worried about the slight dip.

“Our enrollment at the secondary level changes weekly if not daily,” said Westermoreland. “We’re basically where we feel we should be presently.”

The superintendent says the changes aren’t uncommon.

“We have seen some mobility with some of our families due to the economy,” said Taylor. “However, we’re still maintaining our enrollment.”

Gordon County School

Gordon County School system officials were hoping that the more than 700 students attending the first ever Sonoraville Elementary School would boost student enrollment.

But, it didn’t.

Gordon County School Superintendent Dr. Bill McCown says he doesn’t know why the number of students has dropped, but says they are on target.

“Last year we were down 125 kids, and this year we are down around 75 kids,” said McCown.

Each school lacks around 8 students, which McCown feels isn’t an issue.

Red Bud Elementary School was struck hard by a more than 25 percent enrollment drop.

Enrollment was 983 students, around 280 students less than fall 2008, when enrollment was 700.

Red Bud Elementary School family advocate Steven Francher says students flocked from Red Bud to Sonoraville.

“They opened up Sonoraville Elementary, and a lot of students transferred there,” said Francher.

McCown points out that among the transfers, no student was out of zone.

“There are no out of zone students at Sonoraville Elementary School, and there district lines transferred them there,” said McCown.

He also added that many parents opted not to switch schools.

Gordon Central High School had a small dent hit it’s enrollment, as they fell to 859 students, 18 less than last fall, when enrollment was 877.

GCHS principal Betty Holland says the location has presented another option for stu-dents: Sonoraville High School.

“There’s been a decrease in our school attendance because more students fall under Sonoraville district lines,” said Holland. The total number of student’s enrolled at all ten schools was 6,871 students, around 60 students less than fall 2008, when enrollment was 6,932.

SHS enrollment was 1,041 students, more than 40 students than fall 2008, when enrollment was 998.

The freshman class hit a record-breaking number with 317 students, which is the largest freshman class since opening in 2005.

Potts attributes the growth to his teachers.

“We have a great staff that cares about students, and works with students and makes the learning environment a place where they want to come everyday,” said Potts.

Ashworth Middle School Scott McClanahan principal believes the economy is the culprit.

“We are about 17 (students) down from last year, and people may move for various reasons,” said McClanahan. “I think people go where they jobs are located.”

The total number of student’s enrolled at all ten schools was 6,781 students, around 60 students less than fall 2008, when enrollment was 6,932.