HOUGHTON - Most local school districts saw slight declines in fall head counts recorded Wednesday.

Houghton-Portage Township Schools had the largest increase, going up 52 students, or 4.14 percent. Following Houghton was the Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium & Keweenaw (28 students, 1.85 percent), L'Anse Area Schools (seven students, 0.95 percent) and Hancock Public Schools (seven students, 0.87 percent).

The biggest decreases were in Ewen-Trout Creek (28 students, for a drop of 9.82 percent), Stanton Township (nine students, 5.96 percent) and Chassell Township Schools (12 students, 4.29 percent).

Schools' annual funding comes from the state's foundation grant, which now stands at $7,316 per student. Money awarded is based on a blended count of students; 75 percent from the fall total and 25 percent from a count in February.

Houghton Superinten-dent Bill Polkinghorne said the district's numbers can be traced to the school of choice program, which allows parents from other districts to send their children elsewhere. At a school board meeting in August, Polkinghorne said the district had 63 new school of choice students already.

"We have consistently been up in school of choice, and I think school of choice is what made the difference here," he said Thursday.

Hancock Superintendent Monica Healy was pleased with the district's numbers - "813 wonderful kids."

"We'd obviously like to have more, but we're happy," she said. "It's kind of changing a downward trend we've had over the last couple years, so hopefully we can continue. We have a big kindergarten class, which is great."

Polkinghorne said the increase in students helps to buffer against potential cuts in funding from the state.

"It's getting to the point that there will be a severe crisis in funding in all schools in Michigan next year," he said. "It's severe now, but it's going to be devastating next year."

The last budget proposal included cuts of $218 per student; another proposal included using stimulus money to fill some of that gap.

"We're setting budgets when we don't know the amount of money that's going to be coming in, which is very frustrating," he said. "It becomes more critical every day that that passes - and still no answer from Lansing. And all schools in the state are waiting for an answer."

Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.