At the School District 8 Kootenay Lake board meeting on March 12, Secretary Treasurer Cathy MacArthur presented the projected enrollment numbers for the 2024-25 school year and expects those numbers to decline.
In 2024-25 School District 8 estimates there will be 4,411 regular K – 12, 16 alternate and 275 online learning students enrolled. This is a decline of approximately 70 full time equivalent (FTE) students. MacArthur says this decline is a result of more students graduating then entering kindergarten and is expected to continue for several years.
This decline has a significant impact on the district’s funding. Based on the 2023-24 per student (FTE) rates, the district anticipates a reduction in funding of over $600,000.
On March 15, the Ministry of Education and Childcare will release FTE rates for 2024-25. This will help the district get a better idea of what their funding will look like for the upcoming school year, though enrollment numbers will fluctuate over the next few months.
