Education

School diversity increasing, enrollment shrinking

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A recently released state report shows that enrollment is down across all North Fork schools at a time when districts are becoming more diverse.

The state issued its annual “report cards” for all school districts in March. The reports include cost per pupil information, enrollment and district demographics, state assessment scores and the number of students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches.

For regular education during the 2010-11 school year, the cost per pupil was $15,009 for 869 students in Southold; $12,160 for 1,482 students in Mattituck; and $11,570 for 628 students in Greenport. Special education per-pupil costs for 2010-11 were $46,917 for 76 students in Greenport; $39,751 for 138 students in Southold; and $35,315 for 206 students in Mattituck.

The data shows enrollment declining in all three districts. During the 2011-12 school year, enrollment in Mattituck was 1,418 students, down 74 students. In Southold, student enrollment was 858, a decrease of 45 students. Greenport had 608 students, a reduction of 17 students.

As for demographics, the report noted an increases in the Hispanic student population. Greenport, the most diverse school district in Southold Town, gained 18 Hispanic students in 2011-12, for a total of 223. That population makes up about 37 percent of Greenport’s student body, according to the report.

There were 103 Hispanic students in Southold, an increase of five students, and 94 in Mattituck, up by 13.

The report also revealed that graduation rates decreased and dropout rates rose slightly between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.

In Mattituck, the number of graduates dropped by one, to 145 students and the number of dropouts increased by two, to six students.

Over in Greenport, the number of graduating seniors from one year to the next dropped by 15, to 39 students, and dropouts rose by one, to nine students.

Ten fewer students, a total of 64, graduated from Southold High School in 2011-12. Only one Southold student dropped out in either year.

For more information, visit reportcards.nysed.gov.

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