Dexter Loses 27, Chelsea Gains Zero Students on Count Day

The numbers are in, and unofficial reports show that neither Dexter nor Chelsea had significant gains in student population for the 2012 school year.

Count Day was held across the state on Wednesday, when all public schools in Michigan tallied the number of students enrolled in the district. This is an important day for schools because each student in attendance translates into state funding.

According to Dexter Superintendent Mary Marshall, the district is reporting 3,566, a decline of 27 students from the 2011-2012 school year. Marshall said the number is not surprising, due to data that district officials reviewed over the summer.

"We made a really good projection of our enrollment," Marshall said. "We budgeted a loss of 25 students when we had to pass a budget in June."

Marshall said there are 244 kindergarten and 53 students enrolled in the Young 5's program, which is a good sign of district growth in the future.

"We have one of the largest kindergarten classes in recent years," she said.

Chelsea Superintendent Andy Ingall said enrollment at Chelsea Schools was relatively flat for the school year.

Last year, there were 2,465 students in grades K-12 and the district’s base foundation grant is $7,180 per pupil.

"This is the first time in several years that we have not seen a decline in total enrollment,” he told the Chelsea Update.

The district’s preliminary budget was based on a projected loss of 40 students, so the district could save around $280,000, Ingall said.

Count days and school funding are mandated through the State School Aid Act. The calculation schools receive is based on winter and fall student count data during the same calendar year, according to the Michigan Department of Education. For example, this year's funding will be based on February's count and October's count.

Students must be in attendance and receive instruction in all classes on count day to be included.