On Nov. 10, during a school board meeting, officials were told that there are about 5,138 students enrolled in SD48 this year. That figure also includes distance learners from kindergarten to Grade 9.
Deputy superintendent Marilyn Caldwell said that there has been an increase of about 100 local students.
"We're on the rise again," said Caldwell. "And we know there's lots of kids to come."There are the equivalent of 175 full-time international students.
These figures represent a 2.6% increase over the projected enrolment for this cycle.There has been an increase in Squamish after a slight dip the previous year.
There are about 3,233 resident students who have been enrolled this year. Last year that number was 3,163. Back in 2019, it was at 3,250.In the longer term, Squamish has been exhibiting significant growth.
Back in 2014, there were about 2,700 students in town."Where the real growth — and, of course, you know it more than anybody, because you're grappling with it — has been in Squamish," said Caldwell. "It's a difference of 500 children over the last number of years. And, so, 500 children is another school right? so it's a lot of kids there."
In Whistler, there has been a slight increase this year to 1,177, up from 1,146 last year.In Pemberton, there has been another slight increase to 693, up from 689 last year.
Both of those municipalities also experienced a slight dip in student numbers last year, and have seen a mild uptick this year.For French immersion classes, a similar tale is playing out.
Over the entire district, there was a slight dip in enrolment during 2020, the first of the pandemic, and a rebound this year.Enrolment is at 1,079, up from 1,069 in 2020. In 2019, that number was 1,097.
That trend was mirrored in Squamish, where French immersion numbers are at 676, up from 674 last year. In 2019, it was at 690.The biggest enrolment numbers go to two Squamish schools in the entire school district.
Don Ross Middle School comes out on top with 681 students, while Howe Sound Secondary came in with the second-highest enrolment at 612.Garibaldi Highlands Elementary and Whistler Secondary School tied for third place with enrolments of 531 each.
