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Third grader Oliver Ballesteros, followed by second grader Leo Ballesteros, gets off the bus for the first day of the 2019-20 school year at Holyoke Elementary. For the two brothers, it was their first day ever as students at the school, and they showed up dressed to impress. In a change from previous years, Holyoke JR/SR High started Aug. 21 while the elementary school hosted parent teacher conferences. Class started Aug. 22 for Holyoke Elementary. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

School count up 31

A huge increase of 31 students was noted in enrollment figures during the first few days of school in Holyoke School District Re-1J, as compared to the first-day figures recorded one year ago.

Students in grades 7-12 started classes Wednesday, Aug. 21, while K-6 started Thursday, Aug. 22, and additions and deletions to class lists are still in progress this week.

As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 27, the total enrollment for K-12 was 597, up from 566 recorded at the start of the 2018-19 school year.

That includes 314 in grades K-6, an increase of 12; 264 in grades 7-12, an increase of 13; and 19 in Holyoke Alternative School, an increase of six.

For state funding purposes, the actual student count is linked to the Oct. 1 enrollment, not this first-week count.

First-week counts in the district have been up and down in the last decade. They increased by 32 in 2009, dropped by 19 in 2010, increased by 16 in 2011, stayed steady in 2012, dropped by 12 in 2013, increased by 20 in 2014, dropped by six in 2015, dropped by two in 2016, dropped by nine in 2017 and dropped by 14 last year.

The student count at Holyoke Elementary School is 314, up 12 from a year ago. This year’s kindergarten class lists 54 students, while last year’s senior class started the year with 39.

Grade 7-12 enrollment shows 264 students, up 13 from a year ago. The 9-12 enrollment is 172, up six from last fall.

Holyoke Alternative School count was reported at 19 students, up six from 2018-19.

This year’s kindergarten class is the largest in the district with 54 students. There are 53 students in second grade.

The third grade class of 34 is the smallest in the district, followed by the junior class with 36, and first grade with 37.

Enrollment in individual grades during the first few days of school for 2019-20 follows:

Kindergarten 54, first grade 37, second grade 53, third grade 34, fourth grade 42, fifth grade 49, sixth grade 45, seventh grade 50, eighth grade 42, freshmen 49, sophomores 46, juniors 36, seniors 41 and alternative school 19.

Enrollment for the first week of school in past years compares as follows to the 597 count this year: 566 in 2018, 580 in 2017, 589 in 2016, 591 in 2015, 597 in 2014, 577 in 2013, 589 in 2012, 589 in 2011, 573 in 2010, 592 in 2009 and 560 in 2008.

Holyoke Enterprise

970-854-2811 (Phone)

130 N Interocean Ave
PO Box 297
Holyoke CO 80734