PRINEVILLE, OR -- Despite declining public school enrollments nationwide, the Crook County School District saw a 2.6% increase in students this year. Superintendent Dr. Sara Johnson says they have 83 more students than this time last year. “Our schools are performing well and I think that’s part of the reason people put their kids in our schools," she tells KBND News, "But I also think that Crook County is a desirable place to live, and the population is continuing to grow and, of course, the school district benefits from that.” 

The Superintendent says they have enough room for those additional students for now, “We’re trying to make sure we have a 10-year plan; and we won’t be okay in 10 years. But for this year, we’re fine.”

She says families are happy with how the district handled COVID-19, including one school employee who used to commute from another city, “They watched Crook County School District during the pandemic, when we were open and the district from which they came was closed. And so, they realized we’re doing a good job and we’re really working to make sure kids are getting serviced.”

Dr. Johnson credits school employees for the district's success, “Our staff, I think they’re doing well. I mean, it’s a hard time to be a teacher. But Crook County teachers are a robust group of people who are really committed to their job. We just need to be sensitive to how we treat teachers and how we take care of them.” 

Crook County’s total enrollment is now 3,313 students.