New data released by the Utah Department of Education shows that Utah students are re-enrolling in public schools after a nationwide low in enrollment.

According to the United States Census Bureau, school enrollment decreased nationwide by 2.9 million students from 2019 to 2020, the lowest enrollment count in the last 20 years.

Despite this national decrease, Utah schools added a total of 8,638 students to their classrooms in the fall of 2021. This 1.3% growth rate brought the number of enrolled students to 675,247.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of students enrolled in kindergarten in the fall of 2020 fell by 9% nationwide, and Utah saw a decrease of 1,500 kindergarteners statewide. In the fall of 2021, Utah saw a rebound in kindergarten enrollment, with numbers higher than 2019 before the pandemic.

“We applaud the work of our many educators and staff who have made conditions possible for our students to come back to school for optimal learning and support,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson said in a press release. “Parents have responded by having their students return where possible.”

This increase in re-enrollment was seen in Utah County as well. Alpine School District reported growth of 3,158 students this year compared to fall 2020, maintaining their status as the largest school district in the county with 84,111 enrolled students.

“Alpine School District faculty and staff help shape and make a positive impact on many young learners as the largest district in the state.” said David Stephenson, the executive director of external relations and communications for Alpine School District. “We appreciate how our students, parents, employees, and communities work together in providing optimal learning opportunities for all students.”

Provo City School District also reported a rise in enrollment numbers this year compared to last year, particularly at the elementary school level. However, the number of enrolled students is still not as high as it was prior to COVID-19.

Although many Utah parents have chosen to re-enroll their students in public school this fall, there are still some who may have reservations about in-person learning. Statewide, the number of students enrolled in online/virtual school grew to 26,711 in 2021 — up 106 students from the previous year.

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