Student enrollment at Bend-La Pine Schools continues to increase and is up 371 students since this time last year. As of 9:30 a.m. today, the school district has 17,534 students enrolled, an increase of more than 2 percent above last year's October 1 figure of 17,163.

During the past decade alone, enrollment in Bend-La Pine Schools has steadily increased, up more than 2,000 students.

"We are excited to welcome these new families and students to our district and communities," said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. "Bend, La Pine and Sunriver are wonderful places to live and learn thanks to our exceptional staff and community members that support the great work taking place every day in our classrooms."

The opening of two new schools this fall, which were funded through a construction bond passed by voters in 2013, helped the district to better balance enrollment among Bend area elementary and middle schools. The increase in enrollment this year brings the equivalent of more than 12 classrooms of students - or half of a middle school worth of students - to our schools.

Mikalson noted that Portland State University's Center for Population Research estimates that the school district's population will continue to grow during the next decade and is expected to reach 19,600 students by 2021. Based on today's figures, the district remains on track for that projection.