The Huntington County Community School Board of Trustees on Monday heard a presentation on population and an enrollment forecast study for the corporation.
Jerome McKibben, McKibben Demographic Research, Rock Hill, S.C., was hired to conduct the study and shared the results during the meeting.
“There are not enough births in your county to maintain current birthrates and the fasting growing types are empty nesters,” McKibben said.
He provided enrollment and said for 2016 to 2017, there were 377 kindergarten students, 416 first-graders, 381 second-graders, 405 third-graders, 396 fourth-graders, 411 fifth-graders and a total of 2,386 kindergarten through fifth grade.
Matthew Roth, school board president, said the school board has been in discussion about the possibility of building a new school somewhere in the northeast part of the county. He asked if that would be a viable option.
“From the demographic viewpoint only that would be a viable option,” McKibben said.
There were 411 students in sixth grade, 388 students in seventh grade, 407 students in eighth grade and a total of 1,206 students in grades sixth through eighth.
In ninth grade there were 386 students, 379 in 10th grade, 395 in 11th grade, and 416 in 12th grade.
Randy Harris, superintendent, said the board will hold a work session on May 15 to continue reviewing the demographic study.
“As we discuss closing buildings or not we will use this data to assist the board in making what we think is the best decision,” Harris said.