American Canyon school enrollment tops district numbers
The largest high school, middle school and elementary school of the Napa Valley Unified School District are once again in American Canyon, according to the latest enrollment data.
As of Sept. 2, American Canyon High School had 1,753 students in grade 9-12, while American Canyon Middle School had 1,103 students. Canyon Oaks remained the biggest elementary school, with 695 students.
Altogether, more than 4,600 students are enrolled in American Canyon’s schools, which are part of the Napa Valley Unified School District’s 16,000-plus students.
Still, American Canyon’s schools enrolled 73 fewer students than the school district anticipated, according to the school data.
NVUSD Trustee Lisa Chu, whose district represents all American Canyon schools, with the exception of Napa Junction, told the board of trustees on Sept. 11 the latest enrollment data may be attributed to new demographic trends in American Canyon, which indicate more families are becoming empty nesters.
NVUSD Assistant Superintendent Rabinder (Rob) Mangewala told the trustees the district is watching these new trends “very closely.”
This is the first year in “some time” that school district enrollment data were below projection, he said.
The district is working with its demographer to update trends, Mangewala said. That work starts the first week in October, he said. The district will make decisions as these enrollment numbers firm up, he said.
American Canyon’s main developments, including the development of Watson Ranch east of Highway 29/Broadway, are expected to generate 500 students when completed.
By contrast, developments in the city of Napa were expected to increase student population by 50.
Declining enrollments have led to school closures in the rest of the district. Harvest Middle School on Old Sonoma Road, a 27-acre campus in Napa, was sold this week to the city of Napa for $25 million. The school closed in 2021. The Napa Valley Unified School District voted to sell the property.
The biggest elementary schools in the city of Napa are Browns Valley and the Napa Valley Language Academy (NVLA). Browns Valley has 671 students and NVLA, 577, as of Sept. 2, according to the district.
The biggest middle school is Redwood Middle School with 904 students. Unidos School has 551 students and Silverado, 622 students.
Both high schools in Napa County have more than 1,500 students. Napa High has 1,555 students and Vintage has 1,536 students.
