Prairie Spirit School Division Sees Enrolment Increase, Yet Kindergarten Numbers Decline

The Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) reported a modest increase in overall student enrolment for the 2025-2026 school year, with a total of 11,620 students recorded as of September 30, 2025. This marks an increase of 33 students compared to the previous year. However, the numbers reflect a concerning trend in Kindergarten enrolment, which has declined by 16 students.

During the board meeting on October 27, acting Director of Education Dean Broughton presented the latest enrolment statistics. He noted that while the overall increase is positive, the downward trend in Kindergarten enrolment is significant. In the past two years, the division has seen more graduates than Kindergarten students—47 more graduates than Kindergarteners in 2024-2025 and 52 more graduates projected for this year.

The overall statistics reveal that 26 schools within the division experienced a decline in enrolment, while 19 schools witnessed an increase. Broughton acknowledged that these fluctuations are often minor, with some schools seeing changes of just one or two students. Urban schools in Warman and Martensville reported an average increase of 2.6 students per school, contrasting with rural schools, which experienced an average decrease of 1.7 students.

Broughton remarked, “So again, not by huge numbers in the overall averages there, but definitely a slight growth and slight decline.” He indicated that including the population of Hutterite Colony schools did not significantly affect these overall figures.

Another notable aspect of the enrolment data is the increase in home-based students, which rose by 88 from the previous year, representing the largest increase in any category. Broughton also highlighted growth in enrolment at the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (SDLC), where part-time enrolment has increased by 100 courses compared to last year. This increase encompasses students taking one or two courses at SDLC, with a projected total of 674 part-time enrolments from Prairie Spirit this year.

Despite the positive growth in part-time enrolment, Broughton noted that the division would not have the final figures for full-time enrolments at SDLC until November, when the first billing arrives. He indicated a projected increase of 23 full-time enrolments, bringing the total to 189.

The latest enrolment figures reflect ongoing trends in the Prairie Spirit School Division, presenting both challenges and opportunities as the division navigates the complexities of student demographics and educational needs.