Written by Carol P. Bartold

Sep. 24, 2014: The Bronxville School has opened its 2014-2015 academic year with a total count across all grades of 1,698 students, an overall increase of 3.8 percent, or 62 students, over the 2013-2014 year. Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone reported the figures to the Bronxville Board of Education at its September 16 meeting.

The elementary school enrollment expanded by 32 students, a 4.3 percent increase. The middle school population increased by 22 students, or 5.4 percent. The high school enrollment grew by 8 students, a 1.7 percent increase.

The school's largest cohort is sixth grade, with 148 students, and the smallest is twelfth grade, with 113 students. Although projections had indicated the fifth grade population would increase to 152 students, the school year began with 142 students in that cohort.

Average class size in the elementary school stands at 22.3 students, slightly down from 22.6 in 2013-2014. Third grade, with five sections, and fourth grade, with six sections, each have the largest average class size, with 24 students.

Third grade is the only cohort in the elementary school with five sections. All of the other grades have six. "If there is pressure to add another section next year in the budget process," Quattrone noted, "if that happens we are out of space in the elementary school."

Dr. Quattrone commended Dr. Thomas Wilson, middle school principal, and Ann Meyer, high school principal, for absorbing the increases in enrollment and devoting efforts to distribute students in order to achieve decreased class sizes.

The middle school has an average class size of 20.8, compared with 21.8 in 2013-2014. Forty-nine percent of the class sections fall within the range of 20 to 24 students per class, 24 percent of sections have 15 to 19 students, and 20 percent hold 25 to 29 students.

Quattrone pointed out that mathematics sections were added to the middle school curriculum, increasing offerings of math and logic to 28 sections. The goal is to provide eighth graders with more mathematics time in light of the demands presented by state testing and the Common Core Curriculum. "This is one way of deepening the mathematics experience at the middle school," he said.

Average class size in the high school is 19 students, down from 20.7 in 2013-2014. Forty-five percent of sections have 19 or fewer students. Thirty-nine percent of sections have 20 to 24 students, and 14 percent have between 25 and 29 students. One section each in mathematics, science, and social studies, or 2 percent of sections, has over 30 students.

The high school schedule has begun to rotate electives, offering the complete slate once during every two-year period, as a way to manage class size and achieve a better balance of enrollment across all the sections.

In terms of enrollment trends, Dr. Quattrone stated that patterns currently in flux lie within the third, eighth, and ninth grades. He noted that the enrollment bulge in the middle grades, where cohorts are in the 140-student range, will exert pressure on the school facility and educational program in the next four to five years as that group moves into and through high school.

He also pointed out that the past pattern of attrition between eighth and ninth grades, when students transferred to private schools, has shifted toward retention as more students have remained at The Bronxville School.

The board will continue discussions on enrollment trends and projections throughout its budget process. The board's next regular meeting will be on Thursday, October 16, in the school's multipurpose room.

Pictured here:  Students on the front lawn of The Bronxville School.

Photo by A. Warner