Enrollment in public schools expected to rise 5%

Despite the economic hardships experienced by families on island, the Public School System is expecting only a slight increase in its enrollment this new school year as a result of relocation and exodus of many local families.

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said the projected enrollment increase for school year for 2011-2012 is between 4 and 5 percent.

Because of the worsening economic situation on island, it was expected that many students from private schools may transfer to public schools. However, the number of transferees expected this year has only offset the number of enrollees who relocated from the island resulting in only a slight spike in PSS’ enrollment.

As of last week, the commissioner said the system has registered 11,107 students from kindergarten to high school. The figure reflects a minimal increase from last school year’s close to 11,000 schoolchildren. A few more are expected to enroll in the coming weeks as registration is ongoing in many schools.

“We expect to see an increase anywhere between 4 and 5 percent. But at this point in time, registration is still ongoing in many schools and we’re expecting a few more enrollees. Our projected numbers are almost similar to last school year,” she told Saipan Tribune, pointing out that the slight increase may only come from some schools that experienced demographic changes in their community.

According to the commissioner, Kagman Elementary School has been “reconfigured” this school year because of the changes in its demographics. She said the school, which for many years accommodated kindergarten to fifth graders only, will keep its sixth graders to offset the anticipated decline in its enrollment.

Kagman Elementary principal Ignacia Demapan confirmed yesterday that the anticipated decline was result of relocation and exodus of many local families. As of Friday, the school lost 40 students because majority are relocating to the mainland U.S. and Guam. As of yesterday, it recorded 575 students including six graders that were supposed to go to Chacha Oceanview Junior High School. Demapan said the campus can accommodate up to 600 students.

Chacha Oceanview Junior High principal Vince Dela Cruz told Saipan Tribune that although they expect a slight increase in enrolment, from about 300 to over 400 students, this is due to the rezoning of some villages to prevent overcrowding at Hopwood Junior High School. As of this week, Chacha has 350 enrollees. About a hundred are from Tanapag Elementary, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, and some areas in San Vicente.

At Hopwood, principal Jonas Barcinas revealed that enrollment as of this week was 1,186—a decline from last year’s over 1,300 students.

At Saipan Southern High School, principal Jesse Tudela said that they have 860 enrollees as of Friday—a figure that shows a slight increase from last year’s 851 students. Like other schools, he said the increase was due to transfers from both private schools and “relocated” students from Kagman. A few more, he said, are expected as SSHS enrollment is ongoing.

Marianas High School acting principal Cherlyn Cabrera told Saipan Tribune Friday that they currently have an enrollment of 1,455 and are expecting a few more enrollees before the opening of classes on Sept. 6. Last year, the school ended with 1,295 students. Cabrera cited among several factors in the significant increase in enrolment this year. These include transferees from private schools, relocated PSS students from certain villages, a big number of graduates from Hopwood last school year, and the offering of expanded AP classes that challenged many students.