DARIEN, Conn. Friday is the deadline for Darien parents to enroll their children in school. Assistant Superintendent Judith Pandolfo said current enrollment figures show that an additional teacher may be required in the elementary schools.
"It's possible. We'll know when the final numbers get in how many sections we'll need," she said.
Pandolfo spelled out the current enrollment numbers to the Board of Education on Tuesday night. As of Tuesday, 2,264 students had been enrolled in the five elementary schools. The district had projected an enrollment of 2,262 students.
Pandolfo said that since the meeting, the enrollment numbers have not changed. The district uses the numbers from Aug. 1 to determine how many teachers will be needed at each school. Darien schools limit kindergarten and first grade classes to 23 students, third grade to 24 and fourth and fifth grades to 25.
Hindley Elementary School has the largest enrollment with 538 students and requires 24 teachers. Pandolfo said the first grade is only one student away from requiring an additional section.
Holmes has 418 students enrolled with 19 teachers. The first and second grade classes have had lower enrollments than projected, requiring two fewer sections.
Ox Ridge Elementary has 466 students enrolled, requiring 22 teachers. This meets the projection. Royle Elementary School has also met its projections, with 406 students enrolled and 20 teachers required.
Tokeneke has one more section than projected, with 436 students enrolled and 20 teachers.
As enrollment stands, the district will require 105 teachers total in all the elementary schools. The schools are approved for 106 elementary school teachers. Once the final enrollment numbers are in, the Board of Education will meet early next week to decide on the final number of teachers to hire for the upcoming school year.
Are you surprised by Darien's elementary school enrollment numbers? Are the class sizes appropriate? Tell us in the comments below, on Facebook and on Twitter.
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