Freeport Area gearing up for start of school year, enrollment up slightly

The Freeport Area School District is expected to welcome back just under 1,900 students for the school year that begins next Thursday.

That’s an increase of 35 students over last school year. The number could increase if Freeport Area picks up students from the recently closed Evangel Heights School in Buffalo Township.

Superintendent Ian Magness said there are about 150 students entering kindergarten. There will be five kindergarten classes at Buffalo Elementary School and two more at South Buffalo Elementary.

Magness thanked teachers in grades K-8 for putting in time over the summer working on ways to introduce students to working with computers.

“The focus was on properly embedding computer science in the regular classrooms, almost as a type of second language,” Magness said. “It’s all about learning things like programming and coding.”

The new school year will start students in a pre-apprenticeship program at Oberg Industries.

The school board approved the program in March with the Buffalo Township-based tool-and-die maker known for manufacturing precision components for a range of industries.

The program is similar to another program the school district already has with Penn United of Jefferson Township. Deer Lakes and Highlands are other Alle-Kiski Valley school districts that have similar programs with Oberg.