"They are willing to do it; they want them to succeed no matter what," she said.

Arato said educators who teach in the district are aware it takes time and plenty of patience for children to learn another language.

"We want to make sure kids' needs are met no matter what that need is," she said.

The Hispanic population has decreased slightly for Noble Public Schools, according to the State Department of Education's demographics. As of Oct. 1, 2007, there were 2,811 students and 3.8 percent of them were Hispanic.

Noble Public Schools Superintendent Greg Kasbaum said according to 2006-2007 ethnicity statistics, 86 percent of 2,800 students were Caucasian. Hispanic children contributed to 4 percent of the student population.

Kasbaum said he found data for the 1995-1996 school year that showed of the 2,500 children enrolled in the school system, only 2 percent were Hispanic. The number has nearly doubled in 11 years.

"We have seen a growth in our Hispanic population over the last few years," he said.

Kasbaum was named superintendent two years ago. He said he expects the district will continue to grow in size as time progresses.

In McClain County, Purcell Public Schools' Hispanic population has remained higher in the past two years than the state's current record of 10 percent.

The State Department of Education's figures revealed 1,423 were enrolled in Purcell Public Schools Oct. 1, 2007. Fifty-seven percent were Caucasian and 17 percent were Hispanic.

A representative from Superintendent Dr. Tony Christian's office said for the same date in 2006, 18 percent Hispanic children were counted for in the district. The percentage of Caucasian students saw no change.

Christian declined comment for the article.

According to the State Department of Education, numbers of Asian and Black students also have increased in the past decade. The American Indian population has stabilized.

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com