Huntingdon Schools Experience Increased Enrollment

HUNTINGDON (August 20) — Enrollment at Huntingdon Special School District has increased for the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Jonathan Kee, director of schools, reported preliminary data indicate a total of 1,306 students enrolled, an increase over last year’s enrollment.

The preliminary numbers exceed the state-funded numbers of 1,269 based on last school year’s enrollment. Enrollment breakdown is: Huntingdon Primary K-3, 406; Huntingdon Middle School (HMS)grades 4-8, 494; and Huntingdon High School, 406.

Huntingdon has an open enrollment policy to allow students who geographically reside in other school districts to attend HSSD. Open enrollment students now total 73, double from the previous year.

The Board approved the employment of an additional educational assistant at HMS in response to the increase in enrollment at that school.

The Board approved a sports pass for all home games of Huntingdon High School. The pass is $200 annually and allows sports patrons to attend all the home games of all the varsity sports. Dr. Kee said that the price is approximately half that of general admissions.

Students of HSSD have free admission to all HSSD home games.

Construction of a new combination pressbox, concession stand, restrooms, and ticket booth is underway at the Mustangs baseball field on the high school campus. The two-story structure replaces an older structure at the same location.

The football/soccer fieldhouse is now much improved at Paul Ward Stadium. The weightroom, dressing rooms, showers, and restrooms are completely renovated. A curtain drain was installed to divert stormwater from the structure, which solved a longstanding problem of water disbursement. New security measures to enter the building were also installed.

The visitor-side concession stand, a concession trailer, was renovated, the parking lot at HHS was partially repaved and striped for parking.

The Board approved September 11 as a parent-teacher conference. Students will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. and the parent-teacher conference will begin after lunch.

May 16, 2026, 6 p.m. was approved for graduation of the Class of 2026 at Paul Ward Stadium.

Dr. Lee Carter, chairman of the board, reported that Mary Dixie Carter, daughter of famed actress Dixie Carter, will be at The Dixie Performing Arts Center in April. She will talk about her books and her life growing up as the daughter of Dixie and Hal Holbrook.

The Board was given the following updates on staff changes:

Brittany Bolen and Rachel Avalon resigned as educational assistants.

McKenna Fry, Jennifer Whitworth, and Keras Colvett were employed as educational assistants.

Board members present were Dr. Lee Carter, Dr. Morgan Butler, Brittany Foster, Kennedy White, and Clay Nolen. Shawna Smith was absent.