HOT SPRINGS -- Fountain Lake and Lakeside school districts continued their pattern of steady growth in enrollment this year, while figures for other districts in that region were mostly stagnant, according to the 2016-17 enrollment numbers recently posted by the Arkansas Department of Education.
An increase of 78 students at Lakeside represented the largest total rise in the Hot Springs area. Lakeside's enrollment increased from 3,391 in the 2015-16 school year to 3,469.
The growth is the third-largest increase for Lakeside in the past six years. Lakeside's enrollment has increased by 50 or more students five times since 2010. The district's enrollment was 3,037 in 2010.
The Fountain Lake district posted its sixth consecutive year of increased numbers. The district saw enrollment grow from 1,357 students to 1,386.
The 29-student increase is the district's third-largest in the past five years. The Fountain Lake district grew by 55 students in 2012 and 51 a year ago. The district's previous enrollment decline occurred in 2010 from 1,231 students to 1,213.
The Magnet Cove district posted the highest percentage increase in the area. The addition of 29 students was a 4 percent increase to 708 students.
The additional numbers pushed the Magnet Cove district past 700 students for the first time since 2008. This year is the district's third consecutive year of growth.
The Bismarck district surpassed 1,000 students for the first time since 2012. The district's enrollment increased by 38 students to 1,005.
Other districts in the area posted modest gains for 2016-17. Enrollment for the Hot Springs district increased by 40 students to 3,682.
The Hot Springs district has seen its recent enrollment totals fluctuate from as low as 3,611 to 3,710 in 2013. Its highest enrollment in the past 12 years was 3,754 in 2005.
The Malvern district's enrollment increased by 24 students to 2,059. The 2015-16 enrollment of 2,025 represented the district's lowest total since its numbers reached 2,226 in 2005.
The Mountain Pine district posted an increase of 16 students to 529 for 2016-17 after declining by 23 students a year ago to 513. The district has not posted an enrollment of more than 590 since 2010.
Enrollment at the Lake Hamilton district decreased by six students to 4,372. It is Lake Hamilton's second consecutive year with a decrease after seven straight years of growth. The district grew each year from 3,922 students in 2007 to 4,443 in 2014.
The Cutter Morning Star, Jessieville, Centerpoint and Mount Ida districts posted small decreases in line with their overall enrollment patterns.
Enrollment at Cutter Morning Star decreased by just one student to 582. The 2015 total of 583 was the same as the district's total in 2012.
The Cutter Morning Star district's enrollment has not exceeded 700 since 2005. The district's recent totals have fluctuated between 582 this year to 616 in 2013.
The Jessieville district's enrollment for 2016-17 is 879, six more than in 2011. The district's highest enrollment in the past 12 years was 930 in 2009.
Enrollment at the Centerpoint district decreased by 28 students to 933. It is the sixth year of declining numbers in the 10 years since enrollment reached 1,083 in 2006.
At the Mount Ida district, enrollment decreased by three students to 471.
State Desk on 11/16/2016