WSD Enrollment Surpasses Budget by 193 FTE

September 28, 2026 CTE, Accelerated Pathways, and Alternative Programs Fuel WSD Enrollment Growth Wenatchee School District (WSD) announced today that count day enrollment results for the 2026-27 school year came in at 193 Full-Time Equivalent students (FTE) above budget, a significant milestone that reflects real growth across multiple schools and grade levels and strong financial stability for the district. "We’re not a district in decline. We’re taking on the enrollment challenge and leveraging our strengths to create more opportunities for students to be part of our district, " said Superintendent Kory Kalahar. "We are a district that listens to its community and shows up for its students every single day. This growth is the direct result of building the programs students and families asked for and going out to find the families who may not have known everything Wenatchee School District has to offer." Enrollment Growth Across Every Level Count day results show meaningful growth across the district: Elementary schools: Up 58 FTE — driven by kindergarteners, first graders, and third graders Middle schools: Up 27 FTE — with strong growth among seventh and eighth graders High schools: Up 108 FTE — led by ninth, eleventh, and twelfth graders District leadership attributes the growth to a deliberate strategy of listening to student and family needs and building programs that respond to that demand. Career and Technical Education at WHS remains one of the most powerful drivers of enrollment in the district. With programs in Energy Management, Agriculture, Air Force Junior ROTC, Health Occupations, Engineering, and more. WHS offers career-connected learning unavailable anywhere else in the region. Last year alone, WHS students earned 1,871 industry-recognized certificates through CTE programs. Accelerated Pathways, now in its second year, is keeping more students at WHS for College in the High School coursework, giving them access to college credits, college-level rigor, and a robust high school experience. The program is showing very strong results in year two. Valley Academy has seen its enrollment double since relocating to the former Columbia Elementary building. The parent-partnership program serves homeschool families with a flexible, supportive model that continues to resonate strongly with the community. WestSide High School continues to grow as an alternative learning environment, with expanded ALE programming providing new pathways to graduation for students who need a different route. Updated choice policies for the 2026-27 school year have removed barriers for families to join the school program that best fits their student's needs. As of September, the district is up over 100 students who chose Wenatchee School District over their home district compared to September 2025. The district has also invested in targeted outreach and advertising, including mailings, billboard advertisements, and digital campaigns to reach families who may not have been aware of the full range of programs available across WSD. Superintendent Kalahar also addressed the broader enrollment context directly. Overall, the district is down 51 FTE from the prior year in part due to the state's reduction of Transition to Kindergarten slots by 15 FTE as a result of legislative cuts. Enrollment decline is a national trend in public education driven by declining birth rates, shifting demographics, and increased competition. "I want to be straightforward with our community because they deserve that," said Kalahar. "Enrollment decline is a real trend nationally and we are not immune to it. But the data supports that families are choosing WSD in growing numbers across many programs because of what we offer and because we listened to their needs. 193 FTE above budget is the story of a district that is winning the enrollment challenge by building what families asked for."
Source: https://www.wenatcheeschools.org/88250?articleID=78514