Fiscal Highlights - November 2013

Utah schools enrolled 11,581 more students this fall than last year, for a total of 612,551.  This represents an increase of 1.9% over the fall 2012 enrollment of 600,970.  Estimates used during the 2013 General Session indicated that an additional 13,254 students would enroll this fall.  This was an overestimation of 1,673 students, or 0.2% of total enrollment.  

The fall 2013 enrollment count forms the basis for projecting student enrollment for next year (fall 2014) and estimating the cost of student enrollment growth for the coming fiscal year (FY 2015).  The Common Data Committee (CDC), an informal group that consists of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, and the Utah State Office of Education develop a consensus enrollment projection for fall 2014.  CDC projections show that an estimated increase of 10,261 students in fall 2014, for a total of 622,812.  This represents an increase of 1.7%.  

When converted to Weighted Pupil Units (WPUs), projections indicate that the total anticipated enrollment of 622,812 in fall 2014 will general approximately 817,276 WPUs.  This is an increase of 14,547 WPUs over the 802,729 WPUs funded in the FY 2014 budget.  Preliminary cost estimates indicate that student enrollment growth may cost approximately $38 million in FY 2015.  This amount includes the increased costs associated with additional WPUs and other Minimum School Program adjustments specified in statute.