Great Bend has started the fall semester with about 60 fewer students than last year, Superintendent Brad Reed said.
Next Monday, Sept. 21, is the date for the official head count that goes to the state.
If enrollment is going  to decrease, this is a good year for it, Reed said. The state has changed its funding formula and districts aren’t being penalized for lower enrollment. For that reason, the district has also turned down requests to accept transfer students from other districts.
Reed said he doesn’t know why enrollment has dropped so much this year, but he said 15 to 20 percent (nine to 12 students) could be because the school district isn’t taking transfer students this year.