Kalispell, West Valley see enrollment jumps

Public elementary schools in the Flathead Valley experienced an upswing in enrollment over the past 10 years despite the recession, growing by 773 students, or 9 percent.

High school enrollment, however, decreased 257 students, or 6 percent, according to the 2015 Statistical Report of Schools.

The annual report from the office of the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools contains data taken from official October enrollment counts.

Enrollment gains or losses are important to district budgets because a certain amount of state funding is tied to each student.

Throughout the past decade, Kalispell and West Valley school districts absorbed the highest influx of students at the elementary level. Kalispell added 521 students, a 21 percent gain, since 2006. The district’s elementary schools currently educate a total of 3,018 students.

Kalispell Public Schools, the largest district in the valley, has been tackling overcrowding for several years and is in the process of deciding what to build on a 25-acre property south of Kalispell.

Although the elementary schools had a modest 1 percent increase of 21 students this school year compared to last year, Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Mark Flatau said classrooms are full, including eight that were added to Peterson and Edgerton two years ago.

“We’re averaging 2 percent growth a year, which is significant from my position,” Flatau said. “It just continues to demonstrate and strengthen the need to address this thing now rather than later because we can’t wait.”

West Valley also has been impacted by booming enrollment over the past 10 years, accommodating 216 more students — a 60 percent increase.

The school recently underwent a $6.8 million expansion and West Valley now houses 576 students. For the moment, enrollment remains stable and decreased by one student from 2014.

Bigfork, Cayuse Prairie and Whitefish have had notable growth in their elementary schools over the past decade. Bigfork increased by 83 elementary students (17 percent); Cayuse Prairie by 65 students (36 percent) and Whitefish by 63 students (6 percent).

Columbia Falls had the largest decrease in the number of students — 193 (12 percent).

From 2014 to 2015, all but six elementary school districts out of 19 in Flathead County had enrollment increases ranging from 26 students in Deer Park to just one student at Olney-Bissell.

One district that experienced significant elementary growth compared to last year was Whitefish with 91 more students — an 8 percent increase — for a total enrollment of 1,186.

Whitefish School District is currently doing its own facility planning to evaluate building needs for Muldown Elementary, according to Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt.

“Muldown is 50 years old next year, so is our heating system,” Davis Schmidt said, noting that an extensive addition to the building completed in 1992 is nearing 25 years old.

The school is now looking to conduct a comprehensive demographic study as part of the facility planning process for Muldown, Davis Schmidt said.

“Basically we want a 20-year look at what we anticipate for enrollment,” Davis Schmidt said. “We are putting out a request for qualifications. We hope to have results from the demographic study by late spring, early summer.”

At the high school level, all public schools except Kalispell’s high schools lost enrollment.

Flathead and Glacier high schools combined have a total enrollment of 2,816 students — an additional 10 students over last year. Since 2006, the high schools experienced an increase of 279 students (11 percent).

Columbia Falls High School had the largest year-to-year decrease. Total enrollment stands at 638, a decrease of 50 students (7 percent) compared to 2014. A 10-year comparison shows the high school enrollment dropped by 240 students (27 percent).

Whitefish High School, while only losing eight students compared to last year, has decreased in enrollment by 216 students (31 percent) over 10 years, something administrators hope will reverse. Total enrollment at the high school is 489 students.

On the upside, fewer students living in Whitefish School District are choosing to attend out-of-district high schools or private schools compared to last year. An increased number of high school students leaving the district in recent years has been a concern, especially when a $23 million high school renovation project was completed in 2014.

Sixty-five high school students living in Whitefish School District choose to attend an out-of-district school, private school or were home-schooled in 2015, down from 79 students in 2014. Davis Schmidt also noted that 23 students in other districts chose to attend Whitefish this year.

Davis Schmidt, who is completing her first year with the Whitefish School District, agreed that it could be due to the building renovations, new programming or block scheduling. Whatever the reason, she said, “We’re glad to have them here.”

Bigfork High School, which is slated to undergo a $14 million renovation to upgrade an aging facility, saw a marginal decrease in enrollment of nine students (3 percent) compared to last year and 80 less students (22 percent) over 10 years. Similar to Whitefish, there was also a decrease in the number of students opting to attend high school out of district — 49 students down from last year’s 60 students. Thirty-two students from out of district and out of county chose to attend Bigfork High School this year.

While home-schooling experienced a surge in 2013, primarily at the elementary level, numbers started going down the following year and continued through this year.

Home-school enrollment is currently reported at 510 students, a decrease of 26 students (5 percent) from last year. Over 10 years, home-school enrollment increased by 63 students (14 percent). At the high school level, home-school enrollment is currently 127, a decrease of two students. Over the past decade however, overall enrollment increased by 17 students (15 percent).

Most private schools experienced decreases at both the elementary and high school level compared to last year. Stillwater Christian School elementary grades, and Summit Preparatory are exceptions, each increasing by 14 students. Stillwater’s high school grades decreased by just one student.

The report’s 10-year comparison shows Whitefish Christian Academy gained the most students, 48.

When looking at public, private and home-schooling combined, there are 15,467 students enrolled throughout Flathead County. While this only represents an increase of four students compared to 2014, it is an additional 398 students, or 3 percent increase, over the past 10 years. The last time enrollment came close to reaching this number was in 1996 when 15,368 students were reported in Flathead County.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.