Fewer students enrolled than expected this year in Horizon School Division

EAST CENTRAL — Enrolment numbers in the Horizon School Division are down this year compared to last year.

In the 2019-20 school year, there are 6,343 students enrolled, compared to 6,459 in 2018-19, a decrease of 116.

Kevin Garinger, the division's director of education, said those numbers will have a fiscal impact on the division. He added the exact figures will be known at the end of the month.

“Our enrollment numbers are down from what we've projected,” he said, adding the division is planning to make a few shifts in its fiscal plan this year to deal with the reduction in per student funding.

“We’ll still be in good shape to be able to meet the needs of our students and ultimately continue our work towards trying to improve the results relative to their reading, writing and math scores, and of course, meeting all the goals of the board.”

Humboldt Public School has 300 students this school year, compared to 298 in 2018-19, while Humboldt Collegiate has 382, compared to 398 last year.

Garinger said that many communities have remained consistent with previous years, while Strasbourg and Watson saw growth. Watson had 20 more students this year, while Strasbourg’s Willam Derby School had 12.

On the other side of the scale, St. Brieux School saw 34 fewer students this year, while Wynyard Elementary had 19 fewer.