TCAPS Count Day Shows Continued Enrollment Decline

Preliminary Student Count Day numbers Friday showed another enrollment dip at Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) from 2015 to 2016 - a trend that has continued the past several years both locally and statewide.

TCAPS' total head count - including students who receive only part-time instruction - decreased by 119 students since last February, from 9,816 down to 9,697. The biggest losses occurred at Central High School (-58 students), Courtade Elementary School (-38 students), Blair Elementary School (-29 students) and Interlochen Elementary School (-20 students). The district also lost seven students in its early childhood program in the past year.

Seven of the district's 19 schools did see increases from 2015 to 2016, however. Those included East Middle School (+34 students), West Middle School (+26 students), Central Grade School (+15 students), Montessori at Glenn Loomis (+9 students), Cherry Knoll Elementary (+7 students), Traverse Heights Elementary (+5 students) and Old Mission Peninsula School (+4 students).

Friday's count comprises 10 percent of state funding for the district's 2016-17 budget, while October 2016 Count Day will account for the other 90 percent. TCAPS receives the base amount of per-pupil funding in Michigan, or $7,391 per student.