With the first day of school a week away, the early enrollment numbers for Unified School District 428 are in and looking good, Superintendent Khris Thexton told the School Board Monday night.

“These are very preliminary,” he said. But, “we’re very, very close to where we were last year.”

There were fears of steeper declines, but that didn’t materialize. “Overall, I’m happy with these numbers,” he said.

As of Monday, the total district enrollment stood at 2,777, compared to 2,814 at this time last year. The 2017-18 figure doesn’t include 35 new students at Great Bend High School.

By grade level, this year’s and last year’s numbers are:

• Kindergarten – 209 and 185

• First – 192 and 206

• Second – 199 and 226

• Third – 214 and 224

• Fourth – 214 and 219

• Fifth – 212 and 223

• Sixth – 208 and 185

• Seventh – 208 and 202

• Eighth – 203 and 242

• Ninth – 237 (last year unavailable)

• 10th – 242 (last year unavailable)

• 11th – 183 (last year unavailable)

• 12th – 204  (last year unavailable)

• Great Bend Middle School – 411 and 444

• GBHS total – 866 and 845

See related graphic for more individual school enrollment data.