LAKELAND – Lower than expected student enrolment numbers for the 2024-25 school year may impact the funding Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) receives from the provincial government.
During the NLPS board of trustees meeting held in October, Superintendent Rick Cusson provided board members with an update regarding the division’s enrolment numbers as outlined in a Sept. 30 report.
According to the information, there are 5,811 students attending schools across the division, which is a 0.8 per cent decrease from last year and two per cent less than what NLPS officials projected.
The report also states that although some parts of the school division are experiencing growth, other areas are facing declining numbers. During the meeting, Cusson took note of the fact that the number of students for the current school year are still positive, as many rural school divisions are experiencing diminishing enrolment.
While it has yet to be determined to what extent funding could be affected, NLPS spokesperson Nicole Garner stated the funding allocated to the division by the provincial government is based partially on projections made for the 2024-25 school year, along with actual enrolment numbers from the previous two years.
“Since we did not reach those projections, our funding will be adjusted,” Garner told Lakeland This Week.
While the number of students who are attending certain schools this year varies throughout the division, enrolment at the five outreach schools operated by NLPS has increased. These facilities are in Caslan, Lac La Biche, Kikino, Bonnyville and Cold Lake.
Enrolment is up at NLPS outreach schools for a variety of reasons, Garner explained, noting that some students return for a fourth year of high school to complete or take additional courses.
“Some of these are NLPS students, and some are from other school jurisdictions,” she added.
