Enrollment in Lynchburg City schools has jumped this year, contrasted to enrollment over the previous two years, according to the Lynchburg News & Advance.

The quality and appeal of schools is important to all homeowners, regardless if you have children attending the school. A school with a great reputation can have a positive impact on property values as families with young children desire to move into that school's district. And, the opposite is true for schools with bad reputations.

Changes in a school's enrollment, programming or location is of importance to homeowners.

"The enrollment drop in the Lynchburg City Schools may have slowed for now.

This year’s enrollment figures show an increase of five students, a departure from the drops in enrollment seen in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. The numbers, compiled by school staff, reflect enrollment as of Sept. 30 of each year.

'I would like to think it’s because we are a wonderful school system, and so people came,' said Superintendent Paul McKendrick, laughing. More specifically, McKendrick cited new housing developments, the economic downturn, and the draw of unique Lynchburg City Schools programs.

At Tuesday’s joint school board and city council meeting McKendrick shared projections that Lynchburg high school enrollment would decline by almost 350 students through 2014, while elementary school enrollment would increase by 288 students. McKendrick said he wasn’t sure what reasons might be behind the projected decreases at the high school level and increases at the elementary school level. He shared the figures as a way of demonstrating that the system should not look at closing any of the elementary schools.

As far as the 2009-2010 figures, one of the biggest increases came at Heritage Elementary School, which gained 52 students this year and 123 students over the past four years."

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