Natrona County School District Enrollment Continues to Decline

Last year, the Natrona County School District saw a decline in enrollment, and that number is expected to decline even further this year.

The district estimates that approximately 12,289 students will be enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

This will mean a decade-long decline in attendance. Staff has been reduced as a result, along with state funding.

However, the population of Natrona County as a whole is growing.

Data from the State Economic Analysis Division shows the state has added more than 7,200 residents since April 2020. Wyoming’s population grew about 0.4% in 2023 and is still growing at an estimated 0.5%.

Last year, Casper was the third fastest growing city in the state, behind Cheyenne and Sheridan. The city of Mills was ranked first in Wyoming for the fastest annual growth, adding 93 residents.

The question then becomes, if the population of Natrona County is growing, why isn’t the number of students in the school district growing?

One theory is that more parents are choosing to homeschool. The National Home Education Research Institute found that homeschooling rates doubled during the pandemic.

Wyoming ranks twelfth in the nation by population for the most homeschooled students.

Another theory suggests that parents are increasingly choosing private schools, which can sometimes offer more specialized attention, religious instruction, and more mental health care.

The other common topic of conversation on this subject is low birth rates. Wyoming has one of the lowest birth rates in the United States with about 61 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. This according to the CDC.

The operating budget for the upcoming school year is approximately $255.8 million. Of this operating budget, 72% is for direct classroom instruction and instructional support; 25% goes to general support services, 6% to administrative reserve, 4% to fund transfers, and 1% to administrative priority and contingency.