Oct 1, 2014 Count

October 1st is a date of significant importance for all schools in the State of Utah. The Utah State Office of Education verifies the student enrollment in each district on October 1 to distribute estimated State appropriated funding to each district and charter school. The Utah Legislature distributes money in Weighted Pupil Units (WPU) according to the number of students enrolled on October 1st. The value of the WPU for each student for the 2014-2015 school year is $2,972. Funding for each student is also subsidized by additional state, federal, and local tax revenues. According to the web page governing.com, Utah ranks last in the country on “per student” spending behind Idaho, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Mississippi. With funding tied directly to student enrollment, it requires districts to track the enrollments to secure funding to allow the daily operation of schools to take place. I would like to inform the public, the October 1st student count for the 2014-2015 school year is 926. I have included the student counts by school from 2001, and 2013 as a reference for comparison. Garfield School District enrollment only decreased by four students from last year, but has decreased 123 students since 2001.

–Superintendent Ben Dalton

Year 2001 2013 2014
Antimony 18 19 13
Boulder 31 8 6
Bryce Valley 156 154 169
Escalante 113 80 75
Panguitch 221 260 249
Panguitch Middle 72 74 74
Bryce Valley High 134 131 128
Escalante High 133 71 63
Panguitch High 171 133 149
Total 1,049 930 926

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