Sidney student population on the rise

Enrollment at Sidney public schools is steadily trending upward.

The number of students rose from 1,239 at the end of 2012 to 1,279 at the end of this school year.

“I anticipate that we will start this year (fall 2014) with over 1,300 students in Sidney Public Schools,” said Sidney schools superintendent Jay Ehler at Monday’s school board meeting.

The addition of 20 preschool students will contribute to the number of kids attending Sidney schools this fall, but the incoming kindergarten class will likely be much larger than the previously graduated senior class.

At this point, there are 100 students registered to attend kindergarten in Sidney this fall. The outgoing senior class that graduated in May consisted of 84 students.

“So, we are growing in case anybody questions that,” Ehler said.