OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston discussed the declining enrollment at Silver Creek Central Schools over the past decade at a recent Board of Education meeting.

SILVER CREEK — As the Silver Creek Central School District prepares its 2026-27 school budget, Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston and School Business Manager Matt Miller are taking a close look at the cost per student and total enrollment at the district.

Ralston and Miller presented a series of graphics to the Board of Education at its recent meeting to depict the district’s enrollment and cost per student, as well as the funding sources the district has to draw from. The amount of State Aid the district receives is tied to enrollment, and in 2024, State Aid funded more than 63% of the district’s total budget.

Ralston stated that there has been a steady decline in enrollment at Silver Creek over the past decade. In 2016, the district had an enrollment of 1,084 students. Five years later, that figure dropped to 1,010 in 2021, following a decrease of over 5% from the previous year. In each year since 2021, it has continued to drop by more than 1%, including significant drops in each of the past two years. There were 941 students enrolled districtwide in 2024, and only 913 students in 2025.

While enrollment itself is dropping, Ralston noted the needs of students are increasing. The percentage of economically disadvantaged students in the district has increased over the past five years. That does not take into account the social and emotional needs of students that have also increased since the pandemic, as well.

“There is a lot of work being done in the world of advocacy at the state level with the understanding that it can’t just be based on numbers only. There has to be attention given to the need for students when you’re looking at funding,” Ralston said.

The district compared its data with neighboring school districts to evaluate its cost per student. In 2024, when the district had 941 students enrolled, the district spent $26,111 per student. That compares favorably to other nearby districts, as in 2024, Cassadaga Valley spent $26,375 per student; Forestville spent $27,590 per student; and Pine Valley spent $28,018 per student. Larger nearby districts spent slightly less per student in 2024, as Lake Shore spent $24,638 per student and Eden spent $23,632 per student.

“Our expenditures per student is falling right in line with the average. … That’s non-negotiable for us. We aren’t willing to go below the line of what it is that our students need,” Ralston said. “As we look at funding and we look at expenses, this is always our first priority. What do our students need and how are our students impacted?”

The district will present its budget in April, with the annual budget hearing for the public scheduled for May 7 at 6 p.m. in the Silver Creek High School Lobby. The annual budget vote will be May 19 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Lobby.