School enrollments generally see drop

The end-of-August enrollment number for Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 schools was 1,447, a shadow of the district's enrollment of nearly 1,800 in the 1970s, but a slight gain over last year.

Beginning enrollment was 1,429 at this time last year, according to district superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly.

Broken down, enrollment at the Du Quoin Elementary School is 542.

Enrollment at the Du Quoin Middle School, which shares the eastern half of the same building, is 463 students.

Enrollment in niche programs like Tri-County special education and other out-of-district programs is 59.

Enrollment at the Du Quoin High School is 383 students, down slightly from the 2014 opening enrollment of 390 students.

Pinckneyville High School

Enrollment at the Pinckneyville High School is 425, down only two students from last year.

Pinckneyville Jr. High

Enrollment at the Pinckneville Jr. High is 254, down from 261 last year.

Pinckneyville Elementary

Enrollment at the Pinckneyville Elementary School is 273, up from one last year with three new enrollments this week.

Pinckneyville Dist. 204

Enrollment in the Pinckneyville 204 school district dropped to 141, down by 13 from the start of the 2014 school year.

Tamaroa Grade School

Enrollment at the Tamaroa Grade School is 115 this year, a gain of eight from 2014's enrollment of 107.

Elverado Dist. 196

Enrollment in the Elverado Dist. 196's enrollment is 141, down 13.

The amount of general state aid a school receives is dependant on enrollmnent and attendance and legislative appropriations.

Funds are distributed through two grants to school districts. One is an equalization grant that assures the combination of state and local funding meet a minimum foundation level. The second grant is the supplemental GSA grant for low-income students.

Foundation levels are based on the General Assembly and the governor appropriating the necessary funding. For the past several years that has not been the case. When appropriations fall short of the amount necessary to fully fund the GSA claim, payments to districts are prorated and paid at the maximum percentage possible given appropriation amounts.