Utah Public School enrollment declines for third year, Park City holds steady

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PARK CITY, Utah — Utah’s public school enrollment has decreased for the third consecutive year, but Park City appears to be holding steady amidst the statewide decline.

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) reported that 656,311 students were enrolled in public K–12 schools for the 2025–26 school year. This marks a decrease of 11,478 students, or 1.7 percent, from the previous year. Enrollment declined in 14 of the state’s 15 largest school districts by more than 1 percent, with only the Beaver and Tooele County districts showing growth of 1 percent or more.

“Utah’s enrollment trends mirror broader demographic shifts nationwide — smaller birth cohorts, slowing in-migration, and increased school choice,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Molly Hart. “Our focus remains on ensuring that every child in every community continues to receive a high-quality education.”

Charter schools continued to expand, growing by 3.6 percent and now representing 13 percent of Utah’s total student population. While overall enrollment decreased, the proportion of students requiring specialized services has increased. Students with disabilities now make up 14 percent of total enrollment, compared to 11 percent a decade ago.

Park City Enrollment Levels Off

In the Park City School District (PCSD), enrollment has decreased slightly but shows signs of stabilization. As of October 1, the district reported 4,049 K–12 students, down from last year’s figure of 4,117, according to Business Administrator Randy Upton. Including preschool, total enrollment stands at 4,257 students, which is 13 fewer than the previous year.

“Being down 68, with a differential of 200, is pretty good,” Upton noted, explaining that graduating classes of more than 400 students continue to outpace incoming kindergarten cohorts, which average around 260.

Kindergarten enrollment increased by 15 students over last year, rising from 211 to 226. The district also reported that about 80 students who had previously left for charter or private schools returned this year in ninth grade, one year earlier than usual.

Grade-to-grade survival ratios, which track student retention while accounting for in-migration, remained strong across nearly all grades. Preliminary five-year projections indicate that enrollment will remain just above 4,000 students, with annual losses appearing to stabilize.

Funding projections also remain close to target. Upton stated that the district came within roughly $40,000 of its weighted pupil unit projection — essentially breaking even.

Looking Ahead

PCSD officials pointed out that projections assume consistent kindergarten trends and no significant housing growth until new developments near completion. Open enrollment and the return of students may further influence future counts.

Statewide, the USBE continues to monitor long-term demographic changes following nearly a decade of steady growth from 2014 to 2022. While the pandemic initially contributed to the downturn, recent declines suggest that broader population shifts are now also influencing these trends.

A detailed breakdown of statewide figures can be found in the Utah State Board of Education’s Fall Enrollment by Grade Levels and Demographics report.