Number Crunch: Wayzata Schools Expect Rapid Growth

The Wayzata School District is once again dealing with an overcrowding issue at some of its schools. The district projects rapid growth over the next five years. 

Enrollment at Wayzata schools is projected to increase by almost 2,000 students by 2023.

• K-5 enrollment is projected to increase by 18 percent (1,008 students).
• Middle school enrollment is expected to increase 21 percent (610 students). 
• High school enrollment is projected to increase 9 percent (322 students).

School officials said Central Middle School will see the most gain. Currently, enrollment at Central is at 1,320, but in five years Central Middle School is expected to have 1,869 students, a 42 percent increase. Central has a capacity of more than 1,600 students. 

“We will need to get creative with scheduling, or how we use spaces, or we will have had some additions. We’ll have to come up with some solutions because Central Middle School can’t sustain that type of growth alone,” said Kristin Tollison, Wazayta Public Schools director of administrative services.

This kind of growth isn’t new to the district. Over the last 5 years, enrollment increased by 18 percent or 1,748 students. As a result, the district opened two new elementary schools.

School officials said new development is causing the rise in enrollment. 

There’s no timeline yet on what the next steps are, but officials said the growing demand is a good problem to be wrestling with. 

Plymouth