Enrollment continues to climb in 2022

School enrollment is expected to continue its climb in 2022, specifically at the elementary and middle school level, with at least one district proposing to put a bond issue before voters in May to build a new middle school.

That school district is West Valley, which has a total enrollment of 765 kindergartners through eighth-graders, absorbing 54 more students, an 8% increase compared to the 2020-21 school year. This is according to the 2021 Statistical Report of Schools compiled by the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools.

“We’re averaging about a 5% increase a year,” West Valley Superintendent Cal Ketchum said.

In the May school election, West Valley plans to put a $27.3 million bond issue on the ballot — a unanimous decision made by the school board in December. The district is currently gathering survey responses from families and community members and plans to present the results at its next school board meeting Jan. 4.

Total enrollment at West Valley is 765 kindergarten through eighth-graders. This is an increase of 54 students compared to last year, or 8%. A 10-year comparison shows a 46% enrollment increase or an additional 204 students.

Whitefish School District, which is in the midst of long-range facility planning, has set Whitefish High School as a priority when looking at building capacity.

“The high school is a priority because it is approaching its design capacity of 600 students,” said Whitefish Superintendent Dave Means.

Although total enrollment decreased by -16 students, compared to last school year, for a total enrollment of 577 — the past 10 years have brought in 98 more students, representing a 20% increase.

The challenge with growth at the high school level is the electives or specialty classes that require a science lab or a woodshop that has limitations on how many students can be in the room at one time.

“High schools are required to provide certain credits for students to graduate,” Means said.

“We are using the Whitefish School District Annex building for some of our high school classes because of the number of students enrolled in our high school,” he said, noting that six of eight classrooms are being used.

A preliminary draft of the long-range facility plan is slated to be presented during a Jan. 11 board meeting.

ENROLLMENT IN Flathead County public schools has, for the most part, rebounded from pandemic-related decreases in 2020, with several school districts in the valley reaching decade highs at the elementary and middle school level.

In rural elementary school districts, what seems like a low amount of additional students can have a big impact on school facilities.

Looking at enrollment growth by percentage may put enrollment changes into perspective.

Over the past 10 years, enrollment at the K-8 level grew the most percentage-wise in the following public schools at 35% or higher: Pleasant Valley — a one-room schoolhouse — experienced a 400% change in enrollment with the addition of eight students; Deer Park, 117% (gained 91 more students); West Glacier 71% (gained 24 students); Creston, 51% (gained 38 students); Marion 41% (gained 46 students); Cayuse Prairie 35% (gained 71 students).

With smaller tax bases, rural schools may have trouble passing bond issues to fund expansions or upgrade. This occurred at Deer Park, which had a $3 million and then a $1.85 million bond issue to upgrade and expand facilities be rejected in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

This year, Smith Valley School tried to generate community interest and support to solve ongoing crowding issues and aging infrastructure limitations for the K-8 school located off U.S. 2.

After a $6 million bond issue to expand the school failed in 2017, Smith Valley Principal Laili Komenda attempted to begin the facility planning process once again in March.

Komenda said it didn’t gain enough momentum to continue beyond some meetings, but the issues don’t go away, she said. Total enrollment at Smith Valley is 218 students, one more student compared to last school year. Over 10 years, however, the school has grown by 22 students or an increase of 11%.

“It didn’t get the movement I hoped for, but it’s absolutely needed. We’re out of space on every corner,” Komenda said. “I plan to mention it at the January board meeting. I just don’t know how much momentum it will get with the pandemic.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 406-758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com