Every year students cross their fingers hoping they can enjoy another summer weekend without homework after school starts. This year the number of students in Bismarck who have their fingers crossed is the same as last year.

Unofficial enrollment numbers are in, and although there is fluctuation in numbers for the colleges and public and private schools in Bismarck, the numbers are balancing out.

The Bismarck School District saw an increase in enrollment again this year. Last year on the first day of school the increase was 126 students. This year enrollment is up by 14 students.

Paul Johnson, Bismarck School District superintendent, said the increase actually came at the senior high level. Bismarck High School picked up 32 students and South Central has eight additional students, while Century High School is down two from a year ago.

The senior highs had a net gain of 38 students, the middle schools had no increase and the elementary schools lost 24 students. The schools that grew the most were Rita Murphy Elementary, up 41 students; BHS, up 32 students; and Simle Middle School, up 27 students.

Johnson said the increased enrollment reflects the growth in northeast Bismarck. The district is adding classrooms at Murphy and Miller elementary schools and will renovate Simle in the future.

The schools that showed the largest decrease in enrollment were Myhre Elementary, down 33 students; Wachter Middle School, down 26 students; Pioneer Elementary, down 26 students; Solheim Elementary, down 22 students; and Northridge, down 20 students.

Total enrollment for Bismarck Public Schools on Thursday was 10,501, compared to 10,487 last year.

Enrollment numbers in private schools in Bismarck have experienced little change from last year. Most of these schools won't have official numbers until next week, when new student enrollments are complete. However, St. Anne's, St.Mary's and Shiloh elementary schools have added preschools, which increase their enrollments.

The Mandan School District doesn't start school until next week, but Superintendent Kent Hjelmstad said the projected enrollment appears to be stable, with a possible slight increase.

The University of Mary has almost 150 more students than last year. New academic programs are bringing in more students. This year the university added the new school of business, a doctorate in physical therapy, online master's of healthcare administration and online master's of business administration. The university also is opening an adult learning site in Kansas City, Mo., for graduate degree programs in nursing and business.

Mike Lenhardt, associate vice president for student affairs at Bismarck State College, said right now there are approximately 3,400 students enrolled, down slightly from last year. Students can enroll until Tuesday, which could change the final count.

BSC isn't able to have an accurate count of its students because of the online programs, especially the energy online courses, Lenhardt said. "These courses start at different times during the semester, so these students never really get counted."

New programs offered at the college this year are associate degree in nursing, mass communications, transportation and supply chain management, and Web page development and design.

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8251 or kayla.cog dill@;bismarcktribune. com.)