We are beginning to get an enrollment picture for the new school year this September in the Kamloops Thompson School District.

Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Rob Schoen says the district is projecting an increase of 236 elementary school students.

“The firm numbers that we have that have enrolled in their schools of choice and regular school enrollment is about 850. What we’re projecting actually is closer in the neighbourhood of 1,107. We’re about 280-290 students short of what we expect. That’s not unusual because not everyone gets out to enroll during the enrollment time.”

Schoen was asked how the district will handle the increase and if re-opening Westsyde Elementary will help.

“What it allows in Westsyde is, if there is growth that means we’ve got a lot of space to put children between David Thompson and Westsyde Elementary. So that is a benefit for everyone current in those catchment areas, and anyone who could be moving in. In the district as a whole, probably they won’t notice a big difference with that change.”

Schoen says they are confident on the projections citing a demographics program used by the district, which he says has proven to be 99% accurate.

A final enrollment count, including secondary school students, will firm up in the fall.