TTSD reports small enrollment dip and says virtual charter releases will continue after hitting 3% cap

Tigard‑Tualatin School District staff updated the board on enrollment and transfer trends and explained how state guidance on virtual charter options affects transfer decisions.

Dr. McCall reported that as of Oct. 13 the district’s total enrollment was 10,733; a later slide stated the current district total as 10,723 students, excluding charter schools, LifeWorks, transition programs and pre‑K. Elementary enrollment was reported at about 4,602, middle school roughly 2,500 and high school 3,609.

On transfers, staff said last year the district approved 53 incoming interdistrict transfer students and 56 this year; outgoing transfers for hardship were down from 59 last year to 39 so far this year. Staff noted an in‑district transfer lottery the prior year affected numbers.

Staff also reported TTSD’s resident enrollment in ODE‑approved virtual charter schools reached roughly 3% of the resident population, a threshold that triggers additional district responsibilities under Oregon Department of Education guidance. Emma Reed said the district can deny releases only if it can provide at least two virtual options for primary and secondary levels; because TTSD currently lacks K–8 virtual options and has only one high‑school virtual academy, staff said the district will continue releasing families to ODE‑approved virtual charter schools while exploring partnerships or asynchronous coursework to expand local options.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about whether the two‑option requirement is mandatory; staff confirmed it comes from ODE guidance and said districts sometimes partner with other online programs to meet the requirement. No action was required at the meeting.