Superintendent: Bellevue enrollment up ~200 students; district nears restoration of fund balance
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Summary
Superintendent Kelly Aramaki reported Oct. 14 that Bellevue’s enrollment rose by roughly 200 students over last year and that the district’s projected ending fund balance has improved to an estimated negative $700,000 as revenue and spending trends outperformed earlier projections.
Superintendent Kelly Aramaki told the Bellevue School District Board of Directors Oct. 14 that the district is seeing enrollment gains despite statewide declines, and that fiscal indicators have improved following a year of budget adjustments.
Aramaki said enrollment across King County and Washington is generally down, but Bellevue is up from last year by “approximately 200 students,” with kindergarten enrollment back at about 1,200 children — roughly the district’s 2020–21 level. She said resident (in‑district) elementary enrollment is increasing while small cohort declines at middle and high school levels reflect demographic shifts, and that nonresident enrollment has grown and contributes locally to district revenue.
On finances, Aramaki said the district faced a projected negative ending fund balance earlier in 2024 but has made progress: a July projection showed about a negative $4.5 million for the 2024–25 year, while closing the books now points to a likely ending fund balance near a negative $700,000. She attributed the improvement to roughly $4 million more revenue than expected (noting a safety‑net increase and conservative budgeting) and to $6 million less in expenditures than projected in March, including special‑education staffing staying within budget for the first time in a long time.
Aramaki said the district will continue a focus on restoring the fund balance over the next two years and highlighted internal measures taken to curb nonessential spending in coordination with Bellevue Education Association (BEA). She also noted that, because of stronger elementary enrollment and program development, the district is no longer considering closing or consolidating a middle school and removed that option from planning discussions.
Aramaki described the district’s profile — language programs, CTE, AP/IB, advanced learning, special education and activities — as a continuing attractor for families and said the district is one of the few in the region with net enrollment gains in this enrollment cycle.