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Facing Growth: Puyallup School District Examines Enrollment and Facility Challenges

SCUT Meeting 2 photos of task force members

As the Puyallup School District (PSD) continues to experience growth, careful planning and proactive solutions are essential. The district is addressing these challenges through the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT), which reconvened on January 28, 2025, at the Educational Service Center. This meeting marks a continuation of SCUT's work from the 2023-2024 school year, focused on ensuring all students receive the educational opportunities they deserve. 

Key Meetings and Enrollment Analysis 

This year, PSD is hosting three key meetings centered on the future of our schools, capital facilities, and enrollment projections. The second meeting provided updates on district facilities and student growth projections, highlighting both challenges and opportunities moving forward. 

Impacts to Enrollment Trends 

One of the key takeaways was the impact of local demographic shifts. The district's growth is projected to become more moderate due to a county reported trend of decline in birth rates, even as new residential construction continues in many areas of the district.  

With more than 200 portable classrooms in use districtwide, Puyallup School District faces a significant challenge in providing appropriate permanent classroom space for all students. 

Projected Residential Units 'in the Pipeline' 2024-2025

Developers plan to add 2,705 new housing units over the next five years within the district boundary. With many schools already stretched beyond permanent capacity, the anticipated influx of families could further impact schools relying heavily on portables. The Sunrise Master Plan Community, located at the south end of the district, east of Meridian, continues to expand, with approximately 1,000 units (homes and apartments) remaining to be built and occupied within the Puyallup School District and another 1,000 in the Orting School District.  

The proximity of these developments to Glacier View Junior High, Emerald Ridge High School, and the future elementary site on 180th St. E., presents additional challenges. . Families from Orting's Uplands project may commute past Puyallup schools, prompting discussions about enrollment waivers, potential boundary adjustments, and additional pressure on already crowded facilities. 

Puyallup and Oring School District Boundary Map
Uplands Update Photos

Image source: https://uplandscommunity.com

District Enrollment Overview 

Overall, district enrollment grew by .8% from October 2023 to October 2024. However, individual schools saw variations in student numbers, reflecting shifting population trends across different regions. Notably, elementary schools in fast-growing neighborhoods are feeling the strain of increasing enrollment, highlighting the need for strategic space management and potential program relocations. 

Key Takeaways and Next Steps 

These enrollment trends highlight the importance of finding effective space solutions without incurring additional costs.  

SCUT’s Mission 

SCUT continues to analyze enrollment trends, demographic shifts, and facility conditions to provide recommendations on maximizing resources and enhancing educational opportunities. 

Upcoming SCUT Meetings 

  • The third meeting for the 2024-2025 school year will be on March 10th to ensure timely recommendations to the school board.   

The district is committed to making thoughtful recommendations to the school board, ensuring that proposed changes align with its mission to provide high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment for all students. 

To stay updated, visit the SCUT website: puyallupsd.org/SCUT

 


Bond Measure for Long-Term Improvements 

On December 9, 2024, the Puyallup School Board voted unanimously to advance the Bond Advisory Committee’s (BAC) recommendation to move forward with Proposition 1, a bond measure for the February 11, 2025, special election. Proposition 1, developed over several months, outlines projects to address overcrowding, update aging school facilities, and accommodate growing student enrollment in the district.  

Proposition 1 is an $800M bond measure and, if approved, would maintain the current tax rate of $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value by refinancing the recently passed capital levy. This means there would be no tax rate increase for homeowners if the bond is approved. For a $500,000 home, if this bond were to pass, the estimated cost would remain approximately $36.25* per month for the homeowner.   

* The $36.25 per month calculation represents the increase in taxes due to the voter-approved 2024 Capital Levy, which is projected to raise the total cumulative tax rate from $3.27 to $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2025. This increase of $0.87 per $1,000 calculates to approximately $36.25 per month for a home valued at $500,000. 

Key Projects Proposed in the Bond  

The bond proposal includes funding for seven key projects to address the district’s identified needs:  

  • Build: Construction of a new school in the Sunrise Master Plan area to accommodate projected enrollment growth and reduce overcrowding at nearby schools.  

To learn more about Proposition 1 visit our website at http://www.puyallupsd.org/bond 


 

More school construction news . . .