Kindergarten crowd Children take part in a learning exercise in a kindergarten class at H.G. Olsen Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 25. The elementary has an unusually large kindergarten class this year by Port Aransas standards, with 43 students. Student enrollment numbers in the Port Aransas Independent School District have dropped slightly this year despite an unusually large kindergarten class, said Superintendent Billy Wiggins.

The district had its highest enrollment ever in October last year, with 605 students, but that number dwindled to 562 by the end of that school year, Wiggins said.

As of Sept. 19, some 555 students were enrolled throughout the district.

Drops in enrollment hurt schools in a financial sense. By law, propertyrich districts like Port Aransas get to keep $319,500 in tax revenue per child. Much of the rest of the district's tax revenue must go to poorer districts, according to law.

The school district's current budget is based largely on student enrollment numbers tallied at the end of the 20052006 school year. Enrollment tallied in May 2007 will dictate revenue for the 2007-2008 year.

As of mid-September, H.G. Olsen Elementary School had 43 kindergarteners - a large number by PAISD standards, Wiggins said. The school had 32 first graders, 34 second graders, 35 third graders and 37 fifth graders.

At Brundrett Middle School, sixth grade is another extra large class, with 50 students. There are 35 seventh graders and 47 eighth graders.

At Port Aransas High School, there are 48 freshmen, 49 sophomores, 44 juniors and 45 seniors.