The largest enrollment growth in years marked the start of the 2014-15 school year in the Puyallup School District, which added portable classrooms and reconfigured learning spaces within its 32 schools over summer to help prepare for additional students.

“We knew this day was coming, yet there is no question we are running out of space,” said Casey Cox, assistant superintendent of instructional and organizational alignment. “The numbers we are seeing this fall represent growth we haven’t seen in the past several years.”

As of September 15, the district reported 21,237 students – up 583 from conservative projections, Cox said.

The nearly 600 additional students are on top of a planned enrollment increase due to the launch of full-day kindergarten at all of the district’s 21 elementary schools.

Photographs from throughout the district showing the first day of full-day kindergarten on September 8, as well as the first day of school for other elementary, junior high, and high school students on September 3, were shared at the Puyallup School Board meeting on September 15.

“There were lots of happy faces on those first days of school,” said Brian Fox, executive director of communications, information, and arts education.

Fox also shared photographs of students who marched in the annual Rodeo Parade on September 5, as well as those who participated in Education Day at the Fair on September 10.

See First Day of School photos

See Rodeo Parade photos

See Education Day at the Fair photos