School enrollment decreases twice that of other Southeast communities

Petersburg district school enrollment numbers have decreased by 44 percent since 1997—almost double that of Wrangell and Sitka.

It’s a number that Petersburg Superintendent Rob Thomason has been concerned about for some time.

“It’s been a concern in the back of my mind ever since I’ve been here,” Thomason said. “The whole staff knows we’re always looking at the idea that this year does not preclude what it will look like next year. We always have to rethink that.”

The district has seen about a two percent decrease in student enrollment each year. And enrollment numbers are important because it...