Lake Chelan School District enrollment exceeds budgeted expectations

CHELAN - A smaller-than-expected enrollment decline for the 2024-2025 school year has been reported, according to LCSD Superintendent Brad Wilson. The district’s September full-time equivalent (FTE) count reached 1,218.44, surpassing the expected target of 1,210 FTE, which was budgeted earlier. The higher enrollment level offers financial stability from the state and supports continued program offerings.

Despite the decrease from last year’s September enrollment of 1,245.25 students, the district remains above expectations. Superintendent Brad Wilson, now in his third year as district superintendent, expressed optimism. "While we expected a steeper decline, the actual enrollment total allows us to maintain necessary staffing and services for our students. We all believe that is a good thing."

Wilson, who previously served as principal of Chelan High School for six years and Chelan Middle School for three, emphasized the importance of these enrollment numbers for the district’s diverse student population. A significant portion of the district’s students come from low-income households, accounting for nearly 65 percent of total enrollment. Additionally, approximately 56 percent of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, reflecting the district’s multicultural makeup.

“The school board and I see this as a vote of confidence as we continue to recover from the school closures during the Pandemic and accommodate the continued growth of English-language learners in the district schools,” Superintendent Wilson said. “This situation comes at a higher cost of serving our students adequately. 

The district serves a notable number of students facing additional special learning needs, including approximately 25 percent classified as English-language learners, 12 percent classified as students with disabilities, plus a smaller but important group of homeless students.

The district’s ability to exceed its budgeted enrollment target positions it well for more state aid and continued success in the classrooms, particularly in serving its diverse student body. The strong start to the 2024-2025 school year reflects a foundation for sustained educational programming and community support, which was shown in the landslide approval of last February’s school operations and technology levies.