VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Superintendent Josh Johnson shared the unofficial student enrollment numbers for grades K-12.
He said on the first day of school, August 19th, we recorded a total of 949 students in grades K-12. This is 27 students more than we had projected for this school year in May. A few numbers to highlight include an increase in our kindergarten students, 24 new students at Jefferson Elementary School, and a senior class at VCHS of 82 students. According to the “unofficial” enrollment numbers, we are not declining in enrollment for the first time in a few years.
Johnson said we had projected a decline of 23 students but we have actually gained 4 students. This would be the first school year since 2019-2020 that we haven’t seen a decline in our student enrollment at Valley City Public Schools. 2024-2025 enrollment of (945 K-12 Students) Unofficial 2025-2026 enrollment (949 K-12 Students.)
Earlier this summer, voters in the Valley City Public School District approved a $46 million referendum with more than 62 percent during a special election on June 10th. With the passage, the school district steering committee is now moving forward to build a new 3 through 12 school in Valley City.
Superintendent Johnson said the school district is in the design phase of the project and looking for community input before bids are let in February.
He said school officials plan to take a tour of other schools recently constructed in North Dakota.
The full interview with Josh Johnson about the excitement of the new school project and the first week of school is below.