Escambia Academy may still be a relatively small school, but the size of the student body continues to increase. The student count this week is putting enrollment at the highest level seen in the past 20 years.

Betty Warren, headmaster at the school, said enrollment for the current school year is hovering near the 300 mark as classes continue to grow.

“We have 297 students enrolled here for this year,” Warren said. “That is the highest enrollment we’ve had here in 20 years. We have some staff members who have been here for 20 or more years and they tell me this is the largest number of students that has ever been enrolled at Escambia Academy.”

Warren said the largest increase has been at the high school level with a jump of nearly 100 students over figures for the 2009-10 year.

“We have seen growth throughout the school,” Warren said. “Our most significant increase is in the sixth through 12th grades. Last year, we had around 200 students enrolled here, so we’ve seen about a 100 student increase for this year.”

Warren said current growth could be attributed to many factors. But, she said, one of those reasons may be the academic standards being set at the Canoe school.

“I can’t say there is any one thing that has caused our numbers to increase this year,” Warren said. “I believe part of the increase is based on academic standards found at EA and based on the current environment.”

Along with a focus on academic success for Escambia Academy students, Warren said extracurricular activities also attract students to the school.

“We have so many athletic opportunities here,” Warren said. “We have football and basketball, but we offer so much more. We have golf, softball, track and cross-country. We even offer cheerleading and pee wee football at the elementary level. We have the junior basketball team that plays before our varsity games. We have a lot to offer our students and that certainly makes EA attractive.”

Also new for EA this year, a band and dance team have been added to the activities offered.

“We have added a band to our offerings and we even have a dance team this year,” Warren said. “Both of those groups are small now but I do expect to see some growth there as well.

Warren said most classes are at capacity, but teachers are handling the situation well.

“Right now some of our classes are at capacity,” Warren said. “Our teachers and staff are handling everything wonderfully. We are able to handle our class sizes at this point. If we continue to grow and the need is there, I’m sure the board would look at the possibility of adding more teachers and classes for the students.”

Escambia Academy is located just off U.S. 31 in Canoe on Cowpen Creek Road. To learn more about academic and extracurricular activities at the school, visit the school’s Web site at www.escambiaacademy.org or contact them by calling 368-2080.