The unofficial numbers are in: 281 more students are attending Lawrence public schools this school year than last.

But school officials say this is just a first look at enrollment. They will submit official numbers to the state by Sept. 20, and it’s those numbers that state bean counters will use to determine how much funding the local district receives.

“Elementary is up a little bit. Junior high is very steady, and high school dipped just a little bit,” said Julie Boyle, director of communications for the district.

But the school that is really increasing its enrollment is Lawrence Virtual School, boasting an increase of 313 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The boost brings enrollment in the virtual school to 1,069 – nearly 10 percent of the district’s 10,820 total enrollment.

“(The virtual school) led our growth for the last several years,” Boyle said.

Another jump in enrollment comes in northern and western parts of Lawrence. Langston Hughes and Quail Run schools both added about 50 students this year.

“We are growing by leaps and bounds,” said Lisa Williams, principal at Langston Hughes. “We did know we were growing.”

The school has added new lunch tables and an extra chair to each table to accommodate the new bodies. Williams said new homes being built near the school are bringing families with children to the Langston Hughes area.

The city’s two high schools both lost students. Lawrence High School’s enrollment this year of 1,333 is down by 15 students from last year, while Free State High’s enrollment is down 38 students, to a total of 1,165.

Another – planned – enrollment decline was reported at Hillcrest School. To alleviate overcrowding at Hillcrest, the district added English as a second language programs at Sunflower and Schwegler schools. The ability to spread out ESL students has taken some pressure off Hillcrest, where enrollment this year is down almost 85 students.

“The Hillcrest decline in enrollment was giving them a little more room,” Boyle said.