Thursday, October 1, 2026
Enrollment is on the decline at Olympia School District (OSD), with the total number of full-time equivalent students projected to drop in the 2026-27 academic year.
An update from OSD Executive Director of Business and Finance Kate Davis showed student enrollment is estimated at 8,824 for the 2026-27 school year, which would represent a decline of 100.2 students from the current year-to-date annual average.
Elementary enrollment (transitional kindergarten through fifth grade) is estimated at 3,601.8 full-time equivalent students, which would be a decrease of 46 students.
Secondary enrollment (sixth grade through 12th grade) is estimated at 5,222.3 full-time equivalent students, a decrease of 54 students.
Davis said since the 2019-20 academic year, the district has experienced an enrollment drop of 777 students, with the biggest decline being in elementary schools. Davis presented an enrollment update to the OSD Board of Directors at a meeting on Feb. 26.
Because state funding is tied to student enrollment, any drop in the number of pupils in seats on a daily basis means less money flowing into the school district over time.
In order to address anticipated cash flow challenges, Davis also presented a request from Superintendent Patrick C. Murphy for an interfund loan of $3.13 million from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund.
The interfund loan, which was approved by the board, is needed to address anticipated cash flow challenges in the weeks ahead.
“As part of the District’s normal cash flow cycle, General Fund expenditures occur consistently throughout the year, while revenues are received unevenly," said Davis in a message to the board about the issue.
"State apportionment payments fluctuate monthly, with larger distributions typically received in July and August, and local property tax revenues are concentrated during peak collection periods. This timing difference can result in temporary cash flow constraints prior to the primary tax collection months.”
The interfund loan is required to be paid off, with interest, within the fiscal year.
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JulesJames
So a loan from Capital Projects fund to pay for operating costs? Plus declining enrollment when all the abutting districts have enrollment increases? Interesting.
Monday, March 9 Report this
DudeGuyOly
JulesJames where is your info from for increased enrollment for the abutting districts? The projection for North Thurston and Tumwater districts ALSO forecast decreases at the same 1%-ish over the next few years for almost all categories. Interesting.
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1755876673/nthurstonk12waus/ughmndkyxqobgx3tblmc/NTPS_4-YearForecastReport.pdf
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1745599939/tumwaterk12waus/umxyayxogydook93jjw0/EnrollmentStudyForecast.pdf
Tuesday, March 10 Report this