Morris Area enrollment exceeds 1,000 students on first day of school

MORRIS - First day of school enrollment for the Morris Area School District exceeded projections, putting district enrollment at over 1,000 students for the first time since 2003.

Superintendent Scott Monson told the Morris Area School Board Tuesday that enrollment "far exceeded" what he expected it to be.

First day of school enrollment at Morris Area Elementary School was 536 students and enrollment at Morris Area High School was 494 students for a combined enrollment of 1,030 students.

Monson had anticipated 993 students for the year, 37 fewer than the 1,030 were registered on the first day of school. Total enrollment is 51 students higher than enrollment at the end of the 2011 - 2012 school year.

However, Monson also cautioned the board not to get too excited about the numbers, since enrollment often fluctuates during the first two weeks of school.

On another positive note, none of the grade levels have "bubbles" or big changes in enrollment - class size is relatively consistent across the district, said Monson.

Monson credited open enrollment into the district and new families in the community for the increase in numbers.

"It looks like we could be relatively consistent over the next few years," said Monson.