For more than 10 years, student enrolment figures in the Okanagan Skaha School District have been below 6,000 students.

The school district, which serves students in Penticton, Summerland and the surrounding area, had an enrolment of 7,822 in 2001.

After that year, the number of students dropped noticeably each year for more than a decade.

By 2013, there were 5,827 students enrolled. The number has remained close to this level in every year since that time and this year, there are 5,741 students enrolled.

Todd Manuel, superintendent of schools for the school district, said the numbers are expected to remain close to this level for at least the next decade.

Estimates made by the school district call for an increase of 160 to 300 students within the next 10 years. While this is higher than the present enrolment, it remains considerably lower than the numbers seen in the early 2000s.

During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the student population declined slightly and there was an increase in the number of home-schooled students. However, since that time, there has been a return of students to the classroom.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e seen just how important it is to have students in front of teachers,害羞草研究所� Manuel said.

Summerland and Penticton have experienced population growth, according to the most recent census data. However, that growth is primarily among those 65 and older. The number of children and teens is not showing a noticeable increase, he said.