Now that students have settled into their classrooms, the district has reported an accurate head count and a full-time equivalent student count.

The two numbers differ because, for example, kindergartners are counted as one-half since they attend school for only half a day. Likewise, some high school students do not need to carry a full load or have enrolled in Running Start classes.

At the elementary level, the head count is 1,801; FTE is 1,554. There are 1,011 middle school students with FTE at 1,003. At Mercer Island High School, the head count is 1,426 with FTE at 1,394.

Total FTE for this academic year is 3,951, down from 4,040 in the 2010-2011 school year.

Todd Kelsay, the district’s head of transportation, reported an average of 1,900 to 2,000 students using buses each way, per day. This includes metro buses. He said ridership tends to be higher in the afternoon.