Selah School District reports 43 FTE shortfall; staff say it could cost about $430,000 in state funding

Selah School District staff reported at a board meeting that the district’s September enrollment came in 43 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students below projection, a shortfall that could mean about $430,000 less in state funding if the gap persists.

"Our September count was 3,576," said Chris, a district staff member presenting the enrollment figures. He said the district was down 28 students from June and 67 students from September 2023, with kindergarten enrollment notably low.

Chris said the district reduced its projection by 32 FTE from last year but still landed 43 FTE under the revised forecast. "If we were to end the school year at 43 under projection, that'd be about $430,000 that we would not receive from the state," he said.

The declines were not uniform across buildings: staff reported kindergarten down roughly 11, John Campbell Primary near projection, Selah Intermediate School down 14, the middle school down 24 and the high school down 25. Chris added that some families have shifted students into the district’s online program, which lowers in‑building FTE counts though those students remain in district programs.

Superintendent Kevin McKay put the district’s shortfall in broader context, saying the pattern is "a trend across our state and across our nation," citing lower birth rates and other demographic changes driving kindergarten declines.

District leaders said they expect the October count — officially scheduled for the Tuesday after this meeting — to bring additional clarity and that a fuller student-data report, including last year’s SBA achievement results and program breakdowns, will be presented to the board at the October meeting.

Next steps: staff will monitor the October count and present a detailed enrollment and achievement report at the district’s October board meeting.