First day enrollment in Mercer schools higher than last year - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

PRINCETON -- One hundred more students showed up for their first day of school this morning than came the first day of school in 2011. Mercer County's official count today, the first day of classes, was 8,795 students. Last year's first day total was 8,698. 

School is not yet in session at the Princeton and Bluefield Early Learning Centers but the schools' anticipated enrollment of 380 pre-school students will easily boost the county total past the 9,000 mark.

Although first-day enrollment provides teachers and administrators a solid idea of how to plan, they understand that the tally will likely increase after Labor Day. "Despite a fairly late-August start of school, there are still families on vacation and students who don't make it to school until after the Labor Day weekend," said Kellan Sarles, Information Specialist for Mercer County Schools.

Twelve schools saw a higher first-day enrollment today:  Spanishburg showed a first-day increase of 37 students, Whitethorn added 16, Melrose grew by 36, and Princeton High gained 73.

For the purpose of reporting, most districts nationwide consider second-month enrollment data to be the most representative.