Student Count In Norwood Near 5000-September 6, 1956

Norwood’s school population edged near the 5000 mark today as classes resumed following the summer vacation.

The public schools reported a first-day registration of 3800 pupils, which Included the kindergarten enrollment although these classes do not begin until Monday. St. Catherine’s Parochial School counted 1074 students.

Today’s public school enrollment stood at 281 more than the first day of school last year. In 1955 the opening of school was delayed until September 19 when all classes reported, kindergarten through high school.

There were 61 more students at the Senior High School than there were on opening day last year, while the Junior High School had 87 more. The Peabody School remained the same.

School authorities pointed out that enrollments are expected to increase after the first few days with some families not yet returned from vacations. In addition, some children were absent because of the Jewish holidays.

The Junior High School Elementary Unit showed a drop of 55 from last year because two rooms were eliminated.

The public school breakdown follows:

Firstday enrollment at St. Catherine’s Parochial School was 1074, which was about 100 more than last year. Today’s total Included 522 boys and 552 girls.
St. Catherine’s reported no serious overcrowding problem, but this was due only to the fact that it was necessary to reject 25 first graders who had sought to enroll this year.

St. Catherine’s now has 200 pupils in the four first-grade classes. The school has three classes In each of the other grades up to the fifth, and the others have two each. Thus it is apparent that St. Catherine’s will face serious overcrowding conditions in the years to come.

The parochial school year, which is timed to coincide with the opening of the public schools, began with the children attending mass at 9 o’clock at the church celebrated by the Rev. William C. Carroll.