Meeting the Challenge: Puyallup School District's School Capacity and Utilization Task Force

In a unique blend of backgrounds and expertise, an ultra-marathon runner, a grandmother, a PTA president, an urban planner, an Emerald Ridge student, and more have come together last week for a common cause. The Puyallup School District (PSD) is embarking on a journey to ensure that every student receives a quality education despite the challenges posed by growing enrollment and limited space. The School Capacity and Utilization Task Force recently convened for their second meeting of a seventeen-meeting series to tackle this issue head-on. They are working to provide recommendations that support current and projected enrollment, building capacity, and address space issues within our existing facilities until future capital projects are funded and constructed.

 The Challenge: Current Enrollment and Projections

Before diving into the task force's efforts, let us take a closer look at the challenges they face. PSD's educational facilities are stretched to their limits. The formula for understanding this challenge is straightforward:

• Supply = Building Capacity (the number of students and staff the structure is approved to support).
• Demand is the enrollment of the student population.

If the building space is greater than the enrolled students, the district is under capacity. However, when student enrollment exceeds the building space, the district is over capacity, a situation that poses numerous challenges for effective education.

Elementary Schools

To put this challenge into perspective, PSD's elementary schools have a permanent student capacity of 10,475 students (about the seating capacity of Alaska Airlines Arena at the University of Washington). In October 2022, the district supported 11,839 students at elementary school sites, surpassing the building space by 1,364. By October 2030, the projections are even more alarming, with an expected 12,644 elementary students, a staggering 2,169 over capacity.

Junior High Schools

The situation in junior high schools is not much better. With a permanent student capacity of 5,900, PSD had 5,385 students enrolled in October 2022, leaving room for an additional 515 students. However, by October 2030, projections show the district serving 6,094 junior high students, 709 students beyond the building space.

 High Schools

High schools face a similar struggle. The building capacity for high schools stands at 4,300 students. In October 2022, PSD supported 4,793 high school students, exceeding capacity by nearly 500 students. Anticipations for October 2030 are no longer promising, indicating further growth.

” Two major factors support the long-term increase in enrollment within the Puyallup School District. First, the district has more affordable housing options for young families when compared with other areas within the Puget Sound region, particularly King County. Second, we are tracking over 3,800 additional housing units proposed to be constructed within the Puyallup School District.” Brian Devereux, Director of Planner shared. “Market conditions will determine how quickly new housing will be developed.”

Grade Configurations

To understand the educational structure of PSD, it is essential to know the grade configurations they operate under:

• Elementary: Kindergarten – 6th grade
• Junior High: 7th – 9th grade
• High School: 10th - 12th grade

However, there is an exception in the North Hill area (a portion of Region 3):

• Mt. View & Northwood Elementary: Kindergarten – 5th grade
• Edgemont Junior High: 6th – 9th grade

The Path to Resolution: Boundary Changes

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Puyallup School District Board of Directors took proactive measures. They approved a package of school boundary changes, a response to the challenges brought on by the 2015 Bond construction projects. These changes affected:

• 20 out of 22 Elementary schools
• 5 out of 7 Junior High Schools
• Minor adjustments to all three comprehensive high schools

The primary goal of these boundary adjustments was to "right-size" enrollment, both current and projected, to align with building capacity. These changes were implemented between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Programmatic Adaptations: Tailoring Education to Puyallup's Diverse Student Needs

Programming is a significant factor in shaping the distribution of students across our schools. During their recent meeting, the task force gained insights from program leaders in areas such as pre-kindergarten, special education, and highly capable programs. These discussions shed light on how these programs have evolved and adapted over time to better serve the diverse needs of our student population.

In the face of burgeoning enrollment and limited space, the Puyallup School District's School Capacity and Utilization Task Force has its work cut out for it. Their dedication to developing and evaluating recommendations to address this challenge is commendable. The district's willingness to implement boundary changes demonstrates its commitment to ensuring every student can access an excellent education. As they continue to work towards solutions, it is evident that the future of education in Puyallup is dependent on change, and our community and school district are dedicated to providing the best possible opportunities for their students.

Learn more about the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force on our webpage at http://www.puyallupsd.org/scut

Learn more about our Capital Budget at https://bit.ly/3KGR4Nb