Lometa Independent School District bucked the area-wide trend of lower enrollment numbers when it opened its doors on Aug. 25 for the first day of the 2008-09 term.

The district's enrollment increased by seven students from the previous year, and was up from the 306 recorded the first day of classes for the 2006-07 year.

The largest increase came in the 3- and 4-year old pre-kindergarten program, which had a total of 42 enrolled on the first day, compared to 33 last year.

Kindergarten enrollment increased by just one student over last year -- to 20, while there were five more first-grade-students in the new term than previously.

There were 16 second-grade students and 21 in the third grade class on opening day.

The fourth-grade class increased by five students -- to 20, and two less fifth-grade students were on campus this year compared to the previous year.

The sixth-grade class decreased by three students, and six less seventh graders reported to class this year than the previous year's total of 28.

The eighth-grade class had the largest number of students on the first day, and also had the biggest increase in enrollment from the previous year -- up nine students.

Lometa High School opened the year with 103 students -- nine less than last year's opening day.

The freshman class had 22 students on the first day, while both the sophomore and junior class recorded 23 students, compared to 28 and 19 respectively, for the opening of the 2007-08 year.

The junior class numbered 26 students -- one more than from the opening day the previous year.