ST. JOHNSBURY — The Academy’s new school year is underway with fewer students than last year, amid a challenging time for attracting international students.

Current enrollment is 942 students; a year ago, it was 985.

Regulations on student visas are working against the Academy and educational institutions across the U.S. that seek to populate their schools with international students.

Dr. Sharon Howell, Academy headmaster, said that boarding schools and colleges are experiencing about a 17 percent decline in international students this year. Howell said the U.S. limitations on visa timeframes to just four years have had a particular impact at the Academy.