Clarification of statistical information
This week's issue of "Together" reported a number of synodical statistics for 2008. In two cases, those statistics were incomplete, with the result that an incorrect picture was given.
In regard to WELS elementary school enrollment, the president's message stated: "Total enrollment in 2008 was 19,032 compared with 21,174, a decline of 10 percent." These figures were taken from the congregational portion of the WELS Statistical Report. But this section of the Statistical Report only indicates the enrollment of WELS students in our schools and does not include non-WELS students. The Commission on Parish Schools has provided the complete enrollment information. The correct information on total enrollment is:
- 2007 total enrollment at WELS elementary schools was 25,712.
- 2008 total enrollment at WELS elementary schools was 25,289.
This represents a decline of 1.6 percent, not the 10 percent decline previously reported.
The same problem occurred in the statistics for early childhood education. The original report stated, "The enrollment in preschool and early childhood programs grew by 5.6 percent, from 3,285 in 2007 to 3,471 in 2008." Again, these were only WELS children enrolled. The correct information is:
- 2007 total enrollment in early childhood education was 9,567.
- 2008 total enrollment in early childhood education was 9,823.
This represents an increase of 2.7 percent, not the 5.6 percent originally reported.
The printable PDF version has been updated to reflect these changes. Our apologies for the incomplete information.
