Decline in Glendive Public Schools enrollment reflects statewide trend

GLENDIVE — Enrollment numbers in Glendive Public School dropped this fall, with the district reporting 1,079 students on the official count day in October, down from 1,109 students last year. Superintendent Stephen Schreibeis confirmed this trend mirrors a statewide decline in enrollment, particularly in elementary schools.

Student numbers in Glendive Schools have experienced a small, but fairly steady decline over the past 10 years. The highest enrollment in recent decades came at the peak of the most recent oil boom in the fall of 2015, with 1,312 students reported in the district.

According to Schreibeis, the district’s current enrollment is similar to figures from 2010, when it dipped to 1,082 students. However, enrollment had been on a steady increase from 2010 to 2015 before leveling off, and it is now trending downward. He added that Glendive has long faced fluctuating enrollment due to its transient population and other variables, according to Schreibeis.

“We’ve always been kinda of a transient school district, as in the fact we’re constantly getting new students in, and students are constantly leaving,” Schreibeis said.

The bigger issue with fewer students in the schools is the potential to put further financial strain on the district. Montana’s school funding formula is heavily tied to enrollment, and fewer students result in less state funding.

The funding formula is based on student enrollment numbers recorded twice a year, once in October and again in February.

Schreibeis pointed out that over half of Montana’s school districts are experiencing similar declines.

“This is a trend across the state in Montana, especially in your elementary schools,” Schreibeis said.

While no specific cause for the decline has been identified, Schreibeis pointed to several possibilities, including lower birth rates and lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide, homeschooling numbers rose during the pandemic, and while some students have returned to traditional classrooms, the trend may still impact enrollment.

“I don’t know, there’s a lot of theories out there. To me, I think it’s too early to tell,” Schreibeis said.

While acknowledging concerns in the community about consolidating schools due to the declining student body, Schreibeis said such a move is not feasible in the immediate future. With the enrollment drop spread across all grades and schools, consolidating the current buildings in the district isn’t possible without addressing space and infrastructure challenges.

Despite the decline in numbers, Schreibeis emphasized the district’s commitment to maintaining educational quality.

“Even though we see our enrollment decline slightly. Our commitment is still the same. We want to efficiently resource everything that we have to maintain the quality of education services we provide for our students in Glendive,” Schreibeis said.