High School Growth Statistics (1986-2017)

When the current high school was built, Mattawan was a small Class C high school. When the school opened in 1991-1992 the high school band size was around 75 members and had been holding steady for the previous five years. Facilities were created with this size band in mind – one band room, a percussion storage room, a uniform storage room, a small office, a small music storage room, and four practice rooms which are shared with the choir. For instrument storage the room was equipped with home-made wooden storage cubbies, that were made in the 1970s, which were brought over to the new high school from the old one.

By the1996-1997 school year, in five years, the band had already grown to 120 members. At this time the band was split into two performing ensembles with one of the ensembles being forced to rehearse on stage in the auditorium. The auditorium is a great rehearsal space in terms of creating a great listening environment but it lacks proper instrument storage, is a shared space with choir, drama, musicals, and other community/school groups, and the stage costs extra to light and heat/cool. The band hovered around 120 members until the 2002-2003 school year when membership saw another jump to around 150 members. Since the 2006-2007 school year the band has been averaging around 170 members.

In the next three years we are expecting another jump in membership due to our large middle school numbers. For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 we are projecting numbers around 200 members for the high school band. For the 2017-2018 school year we are projecting 220 members based on current class sizes and attrition rates in the middle school bands. With these numbers we will be one of the largest high school band programs in all of West Michigan.

 

High School Band Numbers

2017-2018 – 221 members*
2016-2017 – 195 members*
2015-2016 – 199 members*
2014-2015 – 171 members
2013-2014 – 178 members
2012-2013 – 178 members
2011-2012 – 172 members
2010-2011 – 174 members
2009-2010 – 163 members
2008-2009 – 167 members
2007-2008 – 186 members
2006-2007 – 178 members
2005-2006 – 166 members
2004-2005 – 150 members
2003-2004 – 172 members
2002-2003 – 145 members
2001-2002 – 123 members
2000-2001 – 125 members
1998-1999 – 132 members
1997-1998 – 122 members
1996-1997 – 115 members
1993-1994 – 78 members
1992-1993 – 76 members
1986-1987 – 72 members

* – Projected numbers based on current middle school numbers and average attrition rate

 

Year 9th Grade Students # of Beginners Started Net Loss % Attrition HS Band Size
2017 76 150 74 49 221
2016 40 80 40 49 195
2015 55 106 51 49 199
2014 50 91 41 45 171
2013 52 111 59 53 178
2012 48 108 60 55 178
2011 45 94 49 52 172
2010 60 98 38 38 174
2009 45 69 24 34 163
2008 38 96 58 60 167
Average 667 329 49