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District reports 12,069 students on Oct. 1; staff totals, diversity and capacity data presented
Summary
Papillion La Vista Community Schools reported official October 1 enrollment of 12,069 (preschool–12), up 30 students from the previous year, and provided staff and demographic details including 1,729 employees (1,573 FTE), a teaching corps averaging 14 years’ experience and a 70% rate of master’s degrees.
Papillion La Vista Community Schools reported an official October 1, 2024 enrollment of 12,069 students for the 2024–25 year, district staff told the school board on Jan. 13. That figure reflects preschool through grade 12 and is an increase of 30 students from the prior year’s October 1 count.
Breakdown by level (Oct. 1 comparison to prior year on the district’s report): preschool decreased, elementary increased by 2 students, middle school increased by 14 students and high school increased by 50 students. The district noted preschool counts can change throughout the year and that final numbers are adjusted after Oct. 1.
Capacity and option enrollment: staff reported more students opt in to the district than opt out and that the district will keep Ashbury and Prairie Queen listed as closed schools for 2025–26. Several other schools have reached capacity at particular grade levels; staff said they monitor capacity and staffing when making option-enrollment decisions.
Free and reduced-price meal eligibility and demographics: the district’s free-and-reduced rate on Oct. 1 was 24.1%, a decrease from the prior-year Oct. 1 figure of 27.85%. District staff said the number can rise during the school year as applications are submitted and noted that some families may not reapply after COVID-era automatic approvals ended. The district’s nonwhite student population rose to 29.33% from 27.85% the prior year; Hispanic students made up the largest subgroup of that increase.
Staffing and credentials: the district reported 1,729 employees (1,573 FTE), with about 77% of staff working directly in classrooms. Teaching staff average 14 years of experience; roughly 70% of teachers hold master’s degrees. The starting salary noted for the year is $39,800 and the district’s reported average teacher salary is $64,489.
Homeschooled students and military-connected students: the district reported 540 homeschooled students (4.95% of total) and a district-wide military-connected student rate of about 8.06% (some elementary schools have higher percentages; Anderson Grove was reported as the highest elementary military-connected percentage).
Retirements and voluntary separation: district HR reported 67 employees were eligible this year for the voluntary separation/early retirement incentive; 12 employees applied and were accepted under the district’s December action-by-consent approvals. Dr. Katie Settles said applicants average about 60 years of age and about 22.5 years of service in the district; collectively the group accounts for about 271 years of service. The voluntary separation incentive is $35,000 paid into a 403(b) for each qualifying employee and is distributed around September of the year the employee retires.
Staffing challenges: HR said vacancies remain in certain positions such as paraprofessionals, drivers and food service; the district is continuing recruitment and monitoring class sizes. District staff said they aim to maintain manageable average class sizes and to deploy para hours where needed to support larger classrooms.
