The overall student population in the Delta School District is up just slightly for the 2024/25 school year.
According to enrolment figures from the district, as of October 2024, the total number of students in elementary schools is 8,750, down 28 students from 2023/24.
The number of elementary students in Tsawwassen is up 51 compared to last year, while Ladner is down by six and North Delta is down by 73 students.
Meanwhile, the total number of students in secondary schools stands at 7,162, up by 41 students.
Tsawwassen had a drop of 61 students, while Ladner is up by 48 and North Delta is up by 54 high school pupils.
Overall, the district stands at 15,732, compared to 15,719 the previous year.
Last year at this time, the number of elementary school students in the district was up by nine from the 2022/23 school year, while the total secondary school population was up 142 students.
During the start of its budget consultations this spring, the district said it anticipated a decrease in enrolment of 89 full-time enroled students for 2024/25.
A report earlier this year on the 2025/26 capital plan said the latest enrolment projections for Delta indicate that enrolment will continue its slow recovery from many years of decline and that there is system-wide classroom capacity to accommodate the expected number of students for the foreseeable future.
However, the district is seeing a rapid increase in school-aged children in certain areas.
The district in its submission to the province for capital funding noted a projected increase of elementary school-aged children within the Ladner Elementary catchment area in the next three-to-seven years.
The Ministry of Education last month amended its response to the school board’s 2024/2025 capital plan submission to include a $9 million expansion for Ladner Elementary.
