Declining Student Enrollment

As the Garfield School District prepares for the 2015-2016 school year, we look very closely at the number of students in each geographical area, and assign the faculty and staff according to the student numbers.  When we compare the student numbers from October 1st, 2014 to May 1st, 2015 we noticed a decrease of 48 students across the district. This is a continuing phenomenon. In 1997 the student enrollment in the District was 1,179 students.  We are predicting to have 878 students to begin school in August of 2015.  The Garfield School District has experienced a decrease of 292 students in the past 18 years.  In an attempt to put 292 students into perspective, Bryce Valley High School’s enrollment is 128 and Panguitch High School’s enrollment is 149, so if you add all of the students at BVHS and PHS we have 277 total students.  The district has basically experienced a decrease of enrollment equivalent to the two largest high schools in our district.   To draw attention to this critical issue, I have drafted a letter and provided it to the Garfield County Commissioners, expressing my concerns with the declining student enrollment.  I will present additional student data information to the Commissioners during their June 8th meeting.

Ben Dalton

Superintendent

Garfield County School District

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