The North Van school district reports about 300 more full-time enrolments than expected for the 2009/2010 school year.

In a report to the school board Oct. 27, superintendent John Lewis told trustees, "We are better than the forecast by a good number but still experiencing decline in enrolment."

Projections for the school year indicated numbers would drop by almost 500 full-time enrolments (FTEs), he said. But instead of seeing 15,020 FTEs, the schools saw 15,347.

Lewis said the district appears to be attracting some students away from private and out-of-district schools, but he's not exactly sure why. Staff will have to carry out telephone interviews with new and departing students to learn more about their reasons for leaving or joining the district.

Lewis and some trustees postulated that "diversity" and "choice" options are attracting students to North Van schools.

Lewis and board trustees discussed a recent spike in enrolment at Capilano elementary as an example of popular programs that could be drawing kids to the district.

The school launched an IB program last year to bolster lagging enrolments and now has filled up four kindergarten classes.

Enrolments have grown from 280 students in 2007 to about 360 students in 2009 – which means the school now uses 98 per cent of its seats while two years ago it only used 45 per cent.

However Capilano's bolstered numbers could also mean students are leaving other schools inside the district, one of the reasons district staff will conduct the telephone studies to learn why students are switching schools or districts.

He said the board will have to look at "unintended" consequences of popular programs, adding the district should, "Watch out you're not maximizing one school at the expense of others."

Like most other districts in the province, North Van schools are experiencing a steady dip in enrolments. From 1997-2003, the district served more than 18,000 full time students every year. That number will sit at less than 15,000 by 2012, projections say, before they begin to climb again.

kmcmanus@northshoreoutlook.com