MUSD elementary schools release enrollment figures

The number of schools is up, and class sizes are down.

Elementary principals Rick Abel, Santa Rosa, and Matt Montoya, Pima Butte, gave a presentation at last week’s school board meeting about the average class sizes at Maricopa elementary schools this year.

Across the board the average number of students per class is down with some of the most dramatic drops being shown in kindergarten, first grade and third grade.

The average class size for those grades is about 22 students per class, which is six students fewer than last year’s average.

“We have made great strides in reducing the number of students per class,” Abel said.

Overall there are 130 classrooms in Maricopa elementary schools, and, of those classrooms, only 10 have more than 30 students. Last year the district had more than 20 classrooms with more than 30 students.

“Last year we didn’t have space and were clearing out janitorial closets to make classrooms,” Abel said.

Even though students per class averages are down, there is still room for improvement.

At Santa Rosa there are two classes that have more than 40 students, and the fifth grade range of class sizes indicate enrollment numbers as high as 33 students.

However, the MUSD staffing process requires that in order to hire additional teachers the average class size of fourth and fifth grade must be 33 students.

“We do have empty rooms this year that could take on additional teachers and students,” Montoya said.

This method of grouping average class sizes together is also used for second and third grade.

“The model doesn’t make sense. You could have high averages in fifth and third grade and not be allocated additional teachers because the numbers are low in second and fourth grade,” Montoya said.

With the continual district enrollment it is just a matter of time before new teachers need to be added.

School board member Tim White said,” If we don’t address the need for more teachers soon, the situation is going to get worse.”

Photo by Michael K. Rich