Photo by Jacob Perryman The Sheffield Area Middle High School building. Sheffield students began splitting time between Sheffield and Warren this year, as Sheffield no longer offers core classes in English, math and science.

Enrollment in the Warren County School District appears to have dropped.

According to information presented by Amy Stewart, Warren County School District superintendent, at Monday night’s meeting of the board of school directors, “day 5” enrollment figures show 3,873 students in the district, as compared to 3,911 as of last October; but that’s a figure likely to drop even further. According to Stewart, reliable enrollment figures are not usually available until October as the district discovers more students who have moved out of the area.

“It doesn’t really get locked in for a while,” she noted. “(Enrollment) will surely drop.”

At the same time, enrollment in the Warren County Career Center appears to have increased. As of Monday, 361 students were enrolled in the career center, an increase of 63 from last year.

Stewart gave a more in-depth look at the enrollment pattern for Sheffield High School students.

As of this year, Sheffield students are being bused to Warren for three periods to take core math, science and English language arts courses. Students may return to Sheffield, take courses at the career center or take courses through the district’s virtual academy and still remain Sheffield High School students for purposes of graduation, class rank and athletics.

Students can also opt to stay in Warren for remaining classes, but become Warren High School students if they do. Students in grade nine cannot attend the career center.

Of the 101 students with the option to attend the career center: 40 have chosen to spend part of their time at Warren Area High School and part at Sheffield Area Middle High School, 30 have opted to split their time between the career center and Sheffield, 11 have chosen to complete core courses through the virtual academy and attend Sheffield for remaining classes, 10 have chosen a virtual academy and career center hybrid and 10 have chosen to complete courses solely through the virtual academy.

Of the 33 students in ninth grade splitting course time, 31 are attending Warren and two are attending the virtual academy for core courses. All are taking their additional classes at Sheffield.

Four additional students are staying at Warren Area High School full-time.

Stewart reported 19 students are taking honors or advanced classes that would not have been available if they were solely attending Sheffield Area High School.

The addition of former Sheffield teachers and a guidance counselor at Warren “has been a huge help,” she said.

Stewart also gave an update on how the transition was unfolding, noting there have been some issues.

“We are being incredibly responsive to what we know,” she said. “If there are issues, I hope people are letting us know.”

She noted in particular a bullying incident, which some members of the public were in attendance to address. After the meeting, she met with one of them to help continue to address the issue.

She also said bus routes were still being “fine-tuned” and, in the case of career center students busing to Sheffield rather than directly home, possible alternatives are being considered.