HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Student enrollment numbers at Harrisonburg’s elementary schools and Pre-K programs are once again on the rise.

The city school board heard new data from Welcome Center Supervisor RaMona Stahl during last night’s meeting.

The findings show that pre-kindergarten enrollment jumped by 73 students to a total of 524 new kids. Stahl said this was the figure that surprised her the most.

“Well, those children we’re not going to see those are three- and four-year-olds,” Stahl said. “So that bunch of kids we’re not necessarily going to see in our classrooms this fall, but they’re coming.”

Meanwhile, kindergarten enrollment climbed to 611 students – a 64-child increase over last school year.

Stahl noted that this number does not include graduating preschoolers who were already enrolled in Harrisonburg City Public Schools.