Pasco schools continue to outpace the rest of the Tri-Cities in student enrollment growth, but the Richland and Kennewick districts also are seeing some increases.
Pasco had about 14,000 students Tuesday, the first full day of classes. That's an increase of about 5 percent over this time last year, the district reported.
"We're still growing," said Dennis Maguire, associate superintendent.
The district has seen 4 percent to 5 percent growth each year over the last several years, he said.
The new Chiawana High School, which opened this week off West Argent Road, will help in managing the swelling numbers, he said. About 1,600 students in grades 9-11 will take classes there this year, with a senior class added in 2010-11.
The opening of the second high school means the district could turn the annex building at Pasco High back into a facility for younger students. The annex was an elementary school -- called Captain Gray -- until 2000, when it was converted to help hold all the high schoolers.
This year, it's housing more than 400 kindergartners from four elementary schools in the district -- freeing up some space at those schools.
Maguire said district officials are meeting every day to discuss enrollment.
Student numbers fluctuate as the first week of school progresses, so decisions about adding extra classes likely won't be made for a few days, he said.
"By the end of the week, we'll feel more comfortable with the numbers and have a sense where we're headed," he said.
Richland schools had an opening day count of 10,897 students, up 300 students -- or about 2.8 percent -- over this time last year.
Most of the growth came in schools to the south and west -- Badger Mountain, Tapteal, White Bluffs and Wiley elementary schools and Enterprise Middle School.
"That's certainly not unexpected," said district spokesman Steve Aagaard. "We see a lot of houses being built there and correspondingly (increased) enrollment in those parts of the district."
Tuesday was the first day of classes in Richland.
In Kennewick, there were 15,098 students Tuesday, the second day of the new academic year in the district. That's an increase of 150 students over this time last year.
"Preliminarily, we're looking pretty steady in our secondary enrollment (and) are seeing a bit of growth in the elementary schools," said Lorraine Cooper, district spokeswoman.
Elementary enrollment was up 103 students over this time last year, the district reported.
Middle school was down 11 students and high school was up 58 students, the district said.
-- Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com
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Enrollment increases in all Tri-City school districts
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Wednesday was a big day for the man in charge of providing classrooms to Pasco students.
For weeks, projections had been made, portable classrooms allotted to schools and teachers hired. Now it was time to see whether the calculations matched reality.
"I'm sitting here going 'Oh, my gosh,' " said John Morgan, Pasco schools' director of operations, late Wednesday.
2 Mid-Columbia school districts report higher enrollment
2 Mid-Columbia school districts report higher enrollment
Today was the first day of school for most -- but not all -- Tri-City students, and two districts already were reporting student enrollment increases.
Pasco welcomed kids in grades K-5, sixth and ninth back to school Tuesday. The other students will join them today.
On the first day, Pasco had 7,496 elementary school students, 1,123 sixth-graders and about 857 high school freshmen, said Leslee Caul, a district spokeswoman.
Pasco task force recommends year-round schools
Pasco task force recommends year-round schools
The Pasco School District soon may be the first in the state to run some of its schools all year.
The school board Tuesday received the final report from a task force that was assembled earlier this year to figure out how to ease overcrowding in Pasco schools.
The group, which is made up of parents, teachers and representatives of community organizations, recommended the district make sixth grade part of elementary schools. Those elementary schools then would switch to a multi-track, year-round schedule once they exceed certain enrollment thresholds, which are yet to be determined.
Questions remain about Pasco's year-round proposal for its schools
Questions remain about Pasco's year-round proposal for its schools
Many concerns and questions remain about the proposal to switch some of Pasco's schools to a year-round schedule to ease overcrowding, judging by comments made during a public hearing Tuesday.
The Pasco School District held the forum to gauge public opinion while it is pondering solutions to free up space in its schools. Eleven more meetings are scheduled to prepare parents for the possible transition.
The proposed schedule change means there would be no more long, shared summer break at the elementary schools, which would begin to include sixth-graders. High and middle schoolers' schedules would remain the same, meaning they would be in school while their younger siblings are off for staggered 20-day periods throughout the year.
Pasco moves one step closer to year-round schools
Pasco moves one step closer to year-round schools
It appears the Pasco School District will do everything possible to avoid switching some of its schools to a multi-track year-round calendar.
The school board Tuesday unanimously approved the recommendations of a task force convened to address overcrowding: Pasco elementaries should switch to the new calendar to free up space and sixth grade would be moved from the middle to the elementary schools.
But after hearing from parents and staff during dozens of meetings held in the past weeks, district staff asked that the new schedule be delayed as long as possible. The board adopted that amendment to the original recommendation.
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