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Routt County sets school enrollment record

Teresa Ristow
Steamboat Springs School Board votes unanimously to go to the voters the fund the first phrase of upgrading school facilities.
John F. Russell

Enrollment

Steamboat Springs, 2,526

Hayden, 380

South Routt, 328

Mountain Village Montessori, 103

Routt County, 3,337

Editor’s note: The student count for Steamboat Springs School District and Hayden School District have been updated in this story.

More students in kindergarten through 12th grade are attending public school in Routt County than ever before, according to official enrollment counts taken by schools Wednesday.

Within the county’s three public school districts and at the public Mountain Village Montessori Charter School, a total of 3,373 students are estimated to have attended class Oct. 5, up from 3,211 on Oct. 1, 2015, and 3,236 in October 2014.



Schools receive per-pupil funding based on the number of students who attend on a specified day in early October, typically Oct. 1.

In Steamboat Springs, enrollment was at 2,526 students early in the day Wednesday, down from 2,537 students during the first week of classes but up from last October’s count of 2,515.



The district’s total enrollment is broken down as 755 students at Steamboat Springs High School, 600 at Steamboat Springs Middle School, 483 at Strawberry Park Elementary, 566 at Soda Creek Elementary, 99 at North Routt Community Charter School and 23 at Yampa Valley High School.

Superintendent Brad Meeks said fluctuating enrollment in the first month of school isn’t unusual, as the district identifies students who may have moved in or out of the area.

“There’s a settling period if you will,” Meeks said.

Steamboat’s new Mountain Village Montessori Charter School, which opened Sept. 6, counted 103 students in kindergarten through fifth grade Wednesday.

“Even with the Montessori school, we’re still up a little from where we were a year ago,” Meeks said.

The rural Hayden and South Routt school districts both saw enrollment gains this year, which will help offset funding lost from declining enrollment in recent years.

In South Routt, the district reported 328 students Wednesday, up from a projected 305 students and up from last year’s October count of 327.

South Routt has celebrated the boost in enrollment this fall by placing an “enrollment ticker” on the district’s website to monitor enrollment.

In Hayden, 380 students were counted Tuesday, with no expected change for Wednesday.

Tuesday’s count in Hayden was up from 370 students counted last year.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow


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