School District 8 could see an increase of approximately 119 students next year, according to an enrolment projection report.
The biggest jump is predicted for Creston’s distance education school, known as DESK, which is expected to see a jump of 50 additional students from 2016 to 2017. These students work remotely from home with a supervisor.
Kaslo and Nelson DESK numbers are predicted to stay the same, forecast at eight and 40 students respectively.
Salmo secondary will likely see an increase next year, with 18 new students predicted, and Wildflower’s enrolment is predicted to rise from 140 to 176. Trafalgar will likely see nine additional students, jumping from 397 to 406.
Blewett is forecasting 11 additional students, while Brent Kennedy and Rosemont are each looking at four more.It’s predicted the population of Hume Elementary and W.E. Graham will stay exactly the same.
L.V. Rogers is predicting a 25-student drop from 696 to 671, the largest in the area, while Prince Charles secondary in Creston forecasts a decrease of 13, Redfish anticipates losing 10, and Mt. Sentinel nine.
In Kaslo, enrolment changes are virtually nonexistent. J.V. Humphries anticipates three additional students, while Jewett’s enrolment will likely hold steady at 14.
Salmo elementary is predicting a loss of eight students, dropping from 191 to 183. Winlaw expects to lose four students, taking their population down to 81 students.
Yahk elementary has a projected enrolment of zero, down from its present three. The school is expected to close next year.
Overall, the district’s enrolment is forecast to increase from 4,778 this year to 4,897 next year.