Flathead school enrollment stands at 16,473

Enrollment in Flathead Valley schools grew by 3 percent compared to 2017, according to a countywide enrollment report released this month.

This percentage represents an additional 420 students in public, private and home schools. The grand total of kindergarten through 12th-graders is 16,473. Over the past decade, schools experienced a 12 percent increase of 1,771 students.

The data comes from the 2018 Statistical Report of Schools. The annual report is compiled by the office of the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools using figures from an official fall enrollment count taken in October. A second enrollment count is taken in February. Figures from both counts are averaged to determine state funding levels for public schools.

There are 19 public elementary districts and four public high school districts in the valley.

Total enrollment in public elementary and middle schools is 10,105 students. This is an increase of 135 students, or 1 percent. A 10-year comparison shows grade schools absorbed an additional 1,060 kindergarten through eighth-grade students, or a 12 percent increase.

Kalispell, Whitefish and West Valley school districts absorbed the most students year-to-year, reaching their highest enrollments of the past decade.

In Kalispell Public Schools, enrollment increased by 54 kindergarten through eighth-graders, a 2 percent increase, from last year. Compared to 10 years ago, there are 349 more students, a 13 percent increase. A total of 3,079 students attend the district’s elementary schools and middle school. This year, a sixth elementary school, Rankin Elementary, opened and was built to alleviate an ongoing issue of overcrowding.

Surpassing Kalispell in growth percentage-wise, is West Valley, a district with a total enrollment of 650 students. Compared to 2017, West Valley gained 36 students, or 6 percent. Over a decade, its absorbed 214 additional students, a 49 percent increase.

Whitefish, which is in the process of building a new school to replace Muldown Elementary, grew by 37 kindergarten through eighth-graders, or 3 percent, from last year. Over 10 years, enrollment has increased by 200 students, 19 percent. Total enrollment stands at 1,303 kindergarten through eighth-graders.

The county’s four public high schools gained 69 students, a 2 percent increase, and over the past decade, gained 152 more students, a 4 percent increase.

Whitefish High School, gained the most students, 40, or 8 percent, from last year. Over 10 years, enrollment increased by 13 students, or 3 percent.

While Columbia Falls High School gained 37 students, a 6 percent increase, from last year — over the past decade — the high school had the largest decrease of students, 121, or -5 percent.

Bigfork High School’s enrollment increased by eight students, 3 percent, over last year. Over 10 years, enrollment grew by 32 students, an 11 percent increase.

Kalispell’s high schools, Glacier and Flathead, underwent a 16-student decrease, -1 percent, but gained the most students over the past decade, 228, a 9 percent increase.

The full report is available at https://flathead.mt.gov.

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