Enrollment was down 64 students on the first day of school for Minot Public Schools Tuesday compared with the first day of school in 2020, said Supt. Mark Vollmer.

There were 7,588 students enrolled in grades K-12.

However, Vollmer said Wednesday enrollment is up 78 students from the last day of school last spring.

There is no longer a distance learning option for students but the district is setting up a virtual academy that might include online classes or an option for hybrid online and in-person learning for some classes. Vollmer said about 50 students have expressed an interest in the virtual academy. They will be counted as Minot Public School students under state guidelines but not included in the K-12 enrollment tally.

Vollmer said class sizes are larger at the elementary level than they are at the high school. Kindergarten enrollment stands at 625, first grade enrollment at 609, second grade enrollment at 630, third grade enrollment at 603, fourth grade enrollment at 619, and fifth grade enrollment at 625. Jim Hill Middle School is over capacity, with 805 students enrolled in grades 6-8, and seven double portable classrooms located outside the school building. Erik Ramstad Middle School is close to capacity, with 696 students enrolled in grades 6-8.

Enrollment in grades 9-10 at Central Campus is at 1,093 students and in grades 11-12 at Magic City Campus they are at 932, with an additional 72 students at Souris River Campus, the district’s alternative high school.

The school board is contemplating asking voters in the district to approve a school bond issue in December which would fund construction of a second 9-12 high school on the former Cognizant property in northwest Minot, remodeling Magic City Campus into a 9-12 high school, and remodeling Central Campus into a third in-town middle school.

Vollmer said the numbers at the elementary level show that there are enough students for two 9-12 high schools.

The board will likely make a decision by Sept. 9 on whether to hold a special bond issue election in December.

Students returned to classes with no requirement for students and teachers to wear masks, even though numbers of coronavirus cases in the Minot area on the rise. The district is also not requiring vaccinations and is not keeping track of who has been vaccinated.

Vollmer said the district is closely monitoring the numbers of cases and is working with the public health department. Rapid testing for coronavirus is available on a voluntary basis through the health department for those who have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.