The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) has seen a significant jump in their enrolment for this year.

About 880 students are registered at the Grade 9 to 12 school this year, vice-principal Allison Holzer said. Their initial projections called for about 810 students.

“We got a lot of new students moving to the area, so I think it's from an influx of new people into Estevan,” Holzer said.

Holzer said there are a few students who graduated in June who returned to upgrade a course or take a couple of new classes. And there are some who dropped out midway through the last school year who have decided to return to school.

All grades have seen a jump in student populations this year, Holzer said.

ECS had slightly less than 800 students when the 2009-10 school year wrapped up in June.

Six new teachers have joined the staff. Kyle Whitehead is the new music teacher. Other additions include Mark Kroeker (shop), Kristen Betker (special education), Andrew Herrick (physical education) and Matt Shuya (mathematics). Jessie Elias has joined the faculty on a full-time basis after spending last year as a maternity leave replacement.

A new practice field and locker room facility for the ECS football team should be finished this year.

ECS is also shifting towards a new computer system, Holzer said. Once it is complete, parents will be able to check their children's grades and attendance on-line. Holzer hopes that it will be ready in time for the spring semester at the earliest, or the 2011-12 school year at the latest.