Summer break ended seemingly as swiftly as it began, and the 2017-18 school year brings new lessons and opportunities, along with the annual enrollment numbers.

Some local schools show an uptick in enrollment while others show a decrease.

Waterloo
In the Waterloo school district, there’s a total of 2,648 K-12 students, or 56 students less than last school year. 

That breaks down to 397 in kindergarten and first grade at Zahnow Elementary; 400 Rogers Elementary students in second and third grade; 402 fourth and fifth grade students at Gardner Elementary; 602 Waterloo Junior High students in sixth through eighth grades; and 847 Waterloo High School students.

The school year has also included two personnel changes, following Bob Lohman’s move from WHS guidance counselor to director of guidance/social work for the district. Taylor Sebestik serves as a WHS guidance counselor and Jacob Flick takes over as WJHS physical education teacher.

Sebestik will continue to coach WJHS cross country and track.

Columbia
The Columbia school district has increased its enrollment by 34 from last year for a total of 1,987 students.

At Eagleview Elementary, 308 children make up pre-K through first grade. Second through fourth grade at Parkview Elementary consists of 400 students. 

Columbia Middle School, housing fifth through eighth graders, has 594 students. Columbia High School includes 685 students.

Columbia decided before the start of the school year to move new Columbia High School principal Kevin Moore to the Columbia Middle School principal position. Brian Reeves, who served as CMS principal prior to the switch, is now the CHS principal.

Valmeyer
Valmeyer school district enrollment received a slight boost with 442 total students enrolled, or five more than last year. Valmeyer school superintendent Eric Frankford said the numbers were current as of Aug. 25 and do not reflect official numbers used by the state of Illinois.

For the school year, elementary students make up 186 students, while there are 103 junior high students and 153 high school students in Valmeyer.

Gibault Catholic
Gibault is down 15 students from last school year, with a total of 214 students enrolled. Fifty-two students are in the freshman class; sophomores total 57 students; 56 are juniors; and 49 students make up the senior class.

Andrea Biske has stepped into the director of development role after Sev Kovarik retired in the summer.

Ss. Peter & Paul
Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School is welcoming 17 more students to the school than last year with pre-K through eighth grade enrollment totaling 268.

ICS
Immaculate Conception School’s enrollment increased by 19 students from last year. In total, 349 students are enrolled in pre-K through eighth grade.

Dupo
For the Dupo school district, the sixth day enrollment was 955 students. K-6 enrollment is 523 students.

Grades seven and eight total 148 students, with 284 students at the high school. Last year’s sixth day enrollment report listed 119 more students than this year.

The school district has a new superintendent — Dr. Kelly Carpenter — and Victoria White is serving as the new Bluffview principal.