Evening star., 1948-09-14
Opening Enrolment
In District Schools
Is 5000 Below al

Opening enrolment in the
Districts public schools totaled
63,112, a decrease over last years
first-day attendance, school Of
flcials reported today.
The peak enrolment. however
normally is reached some weeks
after schools open for classes, School
Supt. Hobart NJ Corning explained.
Last years peak-more than $4,000
was reached in October.
Last years opening day enroll
ment was 88,l06, which means that
1894 fewer children reported for
the first day this year than last.
The fact that nonresident students
now have to pay tuition to attend
District schools is believed to be one
reason for the decline IN enroll
ment
Earlier Opening Is Factor.
The earlier opening of school this
year also was believed to be fac
tor in the light opening enrolment,
DR.. Corning said, however. that
he did not think the opening-day
figures were reliable enough to in
dicate any trend in school enroll
ment. He added that by the end
OF the week more complete figures
would be available to give better
picture.
Yesterdays enrolment figures, as
released by school officials. we're:
Teachers colleges, $40. decrease
of 173; senior high schools, 1887,
decrease of zoos; vocational high
schools, 1,476, decrease of 367;
junior high schools, 17,524, a de-
crease of 1.249. and elementary
schools, 5O080. a decrease of l,138,
The Capitol Page Boys School.
now under the jurisdiction of the
District schools, reported an opening
day enrolment of 35.
A total of GA boys and girls less
than last year registered in various
special classes conducted by the
schools, bringing the total difference
between the opening day enroll
ments to 1894.
N DlCdhuONh VI tllc iC5iSIi ntAoA
figures follows:
In the white schools: Teachers
College, $50; Page School, 35;
Senior highs, 8,049; vocational highs,
$50; junior highs. $500; elementary
schools, 1862, and Central High
School, 759 in the senior division
and ATS in the Junior division, for
q total OF 44,548
In the colored schools: Teachers
College, 470; senior highs, 1859;
vocational highs, 887; Junior highs,
s.240, and elementary schools; 24,-
398 for a total of 1854,
Montg omery Rolls Up.
In Montgomery County. enroll
ment figures showed an increase OF
1850 pupils over last year.
Total enrolment is 20,335. This
was broken down into l2,4l6 pupils
in white elementary schools, 5000
in white high schools, 1853 in col
ored elementary schools and 53l in
the county's single colored high
school.
The largest enrolment Increase
l,426 pupils-Was in white elemen-
tary schools. White high schools had
an enrolment increase Of 451 stu
dents, the colored high school, S.
students and colored elementary
schools, 18 pupils.
Rapid Gains Expected.
In the District, enrolment is ex-'
pected to gain rapidly during the
next few weeks as residents return
from vaca atoms Last year, school
did not open until September %.
School officials said a breakdown
as to how many nonresident stu
dents enrolled would not be avail
able until later in the week.
AS the District schools got under
way, Dr.. Corning announced he
would recommend major change
In the curriculum requirements to-
morrow which would place greater
emphasis on American history. He
will make the proposal to the Board
of Education.
Corning Outlines Plan.
DR.. Corning plans to ask the
board to extend the study of Amer
ican history in the high schools
from a two-semester to a three
semester course. One semester will
be devoted to a detailed study OF
the Constitution and of the Federal
and District governments under the
new plan. A civics course now OIL
fered as an elective study will be-
absorbed by the new course.
The plan will not affect students
now in high school, but it will APP
ply to students entering high school
next semester-if approved-ln Or
der not to disturb the courses OF
the students already in high school,
One year of American history Isl
the only social science required OF
high school students at present. I