Enrollment graphic

THOMASVILLE — The Thomas County School System has had an increase in enrollment in the new school year, while Thomasville City School System’s enrollment is down slightly.

The Thomas County School System began the 2016-17 school year with 5,706 students. Enrollment at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year stands at 5,845 students.

“The Thomas County School System has been averaging 1.5 percent to 2 percent enrollment growth for the last several years, which we attribute primarily to modest growth in the school-age population,” said Superintendent Dr. Dusty Kornegay. “This is a very healthy, manageable growth rate in that it allows our programs to grow without overtaxing facilities, personnel and other resources.”

Kornegay said the system’s largest enrollment growth usually occurs in middle school years.

“Some parents who home-school their children during the elementary grades introduce them to public school during the middle school years, and some students who attend either private schools or elementary schools in other districts transition to the county during middle school,” the superintendent said. “We are humbled that the majority of parents in Thomas County entrust the education of their children to us. The Thomas County School System is shaping Thomas County’s future.”

The Thomasville City School System saw a slight decrease in enrollment with the start of the new school year.

There were a total of 2,886 students enrolled in the city school system at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. There were 2,937 students enrolled at the start of the 2016-17 school year.

According to city schools Superintendent Dr. Laine Reichert, there are multiple reasons given by parents and students for withdrawal, resulting in the enrollment decline.

“Reasons given included moving to another county or out of the state, transferring to another school district within the area, transferring to a school closer to area of residence and transferring to a virtual program,” she said.

Other reasons included enrolling in a GED program, beyond school age, Jeff Loftiss Regional Youth Detention Center transfer and being discharged from Vashti.

“There were also several no-shows without a request for records so that we can tell where they have gone,” Reichert said

The city schools student services department will contact parents of students who have changed schools to ask why they left, the superintendent noted.