Slightly fewer students turn up for class

Douglas County schools experienced a 1.26 percent decrease in enrollment as of Aug. 2 compared to the start of school in 2020.

According to figures presented Tuesday to the Douglas County School Board, there were 5,380 students across the district, down from 5,449 the same time in 2020.

The first count of the fall semester is typically lower than that at the end of the spring semester, when there were 5,518 students enrolled.

The district’s largest school, Douglas High School, reported 1,590 students reported on the first day of school.

That’s up 144 from the last day of school in June when there were 1,446 students at the high school.

Douglas County’s two Lake Tahoe schools begin classes on Aug. 23.

School officials expect Whittell High School to increase in enrollment to 164 students, while Zephyr Cove Elementary is expected to drop three students compared to August 2020.

While masks are not being required in class, they are required on the school bus and have been since last fall when school started.

Superintendent Keith Lewis told trustees that students and staff who are traveling to other districts for competition are required to be tested before they leave.

He said that the tests take a few minutes to return a result.

Lewis said he is working with the other three superintendents and Carson City Health and Human Services to incentivize vaccinations among the district staff.

“I think that a high percentage of the staff is vaccinated, but we don’t know who or the exact percentage,” he said.

Carson City Health and Human Services is conducting a vaccination clinic at the Douglas County Senior Center 4-5:30 p.m. Aug. 26.