Enrollment grows at cyber school despite trend
Bob Bauder, Beaver County Times
January 13, 2009
MIDLAND — Midland’s Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School continues to grow — albeit by less than in previous years — despite a trend that indicates enrollment is down at other cyber schools across the state, possibly due to the economy.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that cyber students are returning to traditional public schools, because the economy is forcing stay-at-home parents back into the work force. The schools typically require one parent to be home to supervise their children while they take online courses.
PA Cyber reported around a 2 percent increase in the number of students enrolled for the 2008-09 school year over the previous year. That is a big change from past years when enrollment increased exponentially.
Chief Operating Officer Nick Trombetta said the decreased numbers could be due to a number of factors, but the school hasn’t seen much evidence that the economy is to blame. Recent exit interviews with parents pulling their kids out of the school revealed five cases in which economic conditions triggered the move, he said.
The school’s enrollment grew by 133 students from October 2007 to October 2008. Enrollment, which typically fluctuates greatly during a year, was up to 8,103 as of Tuesday. Staffing has continued to grow and now numbers around 523.
“Our enrollment continues to climb,” Trombetta said. “We’ve never had a year where it hasn’t increased. We’re seeing over 8,000 students, and we could be over 9,000 students if we really made a push.”
Trombetta said competition from other cyber schools and traditional public schools, which now offer online courses, could be cutting into PA Cyber’s enrollment. He also noted that the school had about 700 students graduate last year, which left a gap that had to be made up this year.
“I think you’re going to have years where it will level out,” he said. “For us, transition is always part of it. Sometimes we’re just a helpful place for students to be for a period of time.”
ENROLLMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA CYBER:
2000-01: 505
2001-02: 1,146
2002-03: 1,357
2003-04: 2,087
2004-05: 3,057
2005-06: 4,308
2006-07: 5,872
2007-08: 7,798
2008-09: 7,931
Source: Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Numbers reflect October enrollment as reported to the state Department of Education
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