Enrolment numbers ‘looking good overall’ for public school board

Whether new students are moving to the Sault and area or transferring from other school boards, Algoma District School Board (ADSB) officials are pleased with preliminary student enrolment numbers for the 2020-2021 school year.

“In combined enrolment (including students in both classrooms and those opting to study remotely), the September 11th enrolment, from JK to Grade 8, we’re currently at 6,493 students, and that is an increase of 125 students from what we projected our enrolment to be in the Director’s Report in March of 2020,” said Frank Palumbo, ADSB superintendent of human resources, speaking to officials at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Specifically, in JK and SK, there are 1,181 students enrolled, an increase of 56 students from March projections.

From Grades 1 to 8, the ADSB has 5,312 students enrolled, up by 69 students from originally projected.

“The good news story in all this is, in total, we are up 125 students in elementary enrolment,” Palumbo said.

Joe Maurice, superintendent of education, providing secondary level figures, said “we are currently counting about 3,232 students in our Grades 9 to 12 composite programs, and that includes the virtual learning school. That’s an increase of about 234 students over our March estimates, which were 2,998 in our March 2020 Director’s Report.”

Maurice said the board is still finalizing its secondary level figures, but added “we’re getting firmer on that number.”

In alternative secondary education programs, such as the Algoma Education Connection (which includes Prince Charles Secondary School at 550 Northern Ave., across from Sault College, and the North Shore Adolescent Centre, which has sites in Blind River and Elliot Lake), there are 205 students enrolled, compared to a March 2020 projection of 212.

“That is a high number for this time. Normally those numbers grow to the 200 range by Thanksgiving, and these are solid in seat numbers right now. It’s good to see those numbers are there and may continue to grow as we move forward,” Maurice said.

“The numbers are looking good overall.”