The Mercer Island School District will not be opening any new, non-resident enrollment slots for the 2010-2011 school year, according to the district.

Superintendent Gary Plano notified the district last week that per administrative policy, MISD will not be seeking additional students as enrollment increased this year and is expected to grow in the coming years. After several years of declining numbers the district has seen a rise in resident students either enrolling in the district for the first time, or coming back from other schools.

“I just can’t justify to open to new non-residents right now,” said Plano, during the School Board’s monthly meeting last week.

The superintendent added that with the economy continuing to stay in a down place, he was worried more residents would be bringing their students back to Island schools, therefore taking places which had previously been open to non-resident students.

At a recent open house for families interested in attending Mercer Island High School, the staff reported that 60 families were in attendance. That number includes both residential families and off-Island students looking at the district.

The January 2010 enrollment report had the district’s enrollment ahead of projected numbers by approximately 75 full-time equivalent students (FTE) students. The district’s current demographic study expects the district to continue to grow by approximately 800 new students through the next decade. The 2008-2009 school year reserved a two-year downward enrollment trend in the district.

At this time, current non-resident students will continue to have spots, but no new students will be added next year.

For more information, see www.misd.k12.wa.us.