The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is scaling back enrollment because of a tight budget. The public boarding school for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors is on the campus of Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. It enrolled 271 students in the 2011-12 year. That will decrease to 238 for the coming year, said MSMS spokesman Wade Leonard. Without more money, school officials said enrollment is expected to reach its lowest level of 220 students by 2017-18.
Enrollment falls in Mississippi School for math and sciences
MSMS has operated with a level budget of $4.5 million the past two years, according to the state Department of Education. The school’s executive director, Germain McConnell, said that despite MSMS being spared from cuts, leaders have had to support the general budget by withdrawing from a plant fund that’s earmarked for capital improvements and emergencies. At least $1.5 million is needed to restore full enrollment capacity, McConnell said. He said the money also would go toward distance-learning initiatives.
The public boarding school for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors is on the campus of Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. It enrolled 271 students in the 2011-12 year. That will decrease to 238 for the coming year, said MSMS spokesman Wade Leonard.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- school in Mississippi scales back enrollment
- numbers will decrease due to budget concerns
- school needs 1.5 million to increase enrollment
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