SD6 losing students to Deer Park, West Glacier
Students walk between classrooms at the Deer Park School last week.
The recent released statistical report of Flathead County Schools illustrates how many students School District 6 loses to other districts.
West Glacier and Deer Park get more than 100 students from SD6, losing 52 kids to West Glacier and 54 to Deer Park. Whitefish skims off another 23.
Conversely, 34 Deer Park kids attend Columbia Falls schools. With Whitefish, 14 of their students attend school here.
All told, Columbia Falls currently has a net loss of 20 kids to Deer Park and nine to Whitefish.
The numbers could play a role in how the school determines the best way to proceed with elementary school expansion.
Board members and superintendent Steve Bradshaw openly wondered if the Canyon School were to be reopened, would students return and leave West Glacier, where presumably they went to after the Canyon School was closed.
The district closed Canyon School in 2011 after enrollment dipped, though it still owns the building. Part of the building today is used as a health clinic for Canyon residents.