Early numbers for USD 428 show enrollment is down for the 2017-2018 school year, but Superintendent Khris Thexton says the number is closer than the initial data shows.
The total number of students for this upcoming school year is 2,777 compared to 2,814 from the year before. Thexton says there are 35 high school students not included in the number, which would cut the difference to two students.
Khris Thexton Audio
As of now, Great Bend High School has 866 students in their four classes combined. The Great Bend Middle School has 411 students. The numbers for the 1st, 2nd, and 11th grades were the lowest throughout the district, all under 200 students.
Thexton says USD 428 is allowing out-of-district transfers this year, already accepting close to 10 students from other districts.
Khris Thexton Audio
Each year the school district receives requests from parents wanting to transfer their elementary-aged students to other grade schools within the district. USD 428 received 50 requests for the 2017-2018 school year and granted 37 of the requests.