MCS student enrollment increases to 11,665 for new school year

MADISON – A lot has been in the news lately of the rising student population numbers at Madison City Schools. MCS superintendent Robby Parker has cited the increase as a reason for his proposal of building two new schools.

Parker is hoping voters in Madison and Triana will pass the 12-mill increase during a special election on Sept. 10 so the district can add a new middle school and elementary school to alleviate overcrowding.

A 12-mil increase would add $120 annually in property tax per $100,000 value of a home.

Now that school is underway MCS have been able to get a better picture of the student enrollment numbers.

Madison City Schools ended the 2018-2019 school year with 11,432 students enrolled. Over 900 graduated and nearly 700 withdrew over the summer. That means 1,600 of those 11,432 did not return on Aug. 7, the first day of school.

At the same time, as of Aug. 14, the school district has enrolled over 1,800 “new” students over the summer who were not part of Madison City Schools last year, with new students continuing to arrive as schools are under way.

One week into this current school year, Madison City’s enrollment stands at 11,665 for a net gain of 233 students over the summer. Another 200 are “in progress,” meaning a registration has been started but incomplete and no accounting of the student at the school yet. If completed and verified, these students could cause the numbers to continue to climb.

At this point last year, there were about 100 more students than the end of the previous school year. This year that number is 233, and could climb in the next few days and weeks over 400.

Over the course of the 2018-19 school year, the district grew by nearly 600 students. School officials expect to see that rate possibility increase this year.

MCS officials estimate schools opened the new school year at 95% capacity district-wide. In fact, some schools have reached or near reaching their capacity. Liberty Middle School is at 100%. Mill Creek, Rainbow and Horizon elementary schools is at 98%.

To handle the growth, Parker has proposed building a new $34 million elementary school on 20 acres of land the school district already owns next to the Kroger on Wall Triana Highway. It will hold about 900 students.

He also proposed building a new $49 million middle school, which will hold 1,200 students in grades six to eight. It would be built on land the school district also owns behind the central office on Celtic Drive.

Bob Jones and James Clemens would see some expansion at the high school level.