Poudre School District Emphasizes Attendance as October Count Approaches
Poudre School District is reminding families that student attendance during the upcoming weeks will directly impact the district's funding for the entire school year, with Colorado's official October Count scheduled for October 1.
The October Count, established by Colorado's Public School Finance Act of 1994, serves as the state's annual enrollment census that determines how much funding each district receives. For the 2025-2026 school year, Colorado's average per-pupil funding is set at $11,863, representing a $412 increase over the previous year, according to recent state legislation.
"Every student in class means resources for our schools – funding that supports students, teachers, and programs," the district stated in its announcement to families. PSD serves approximately 29,914 students across more than 50 schools in Larimer County.
The timing proves critical for Northern Colorado districts facing enrollment challenges. PSD projects a 9.26% enrollment decline by 2029, making consistent attendance during the count period even more important for maintaining funding levels. The district's per-pupil allocation varies by school, ranging from about $5,400 at large high schools to over $11,000 at alternative schools, with Mountain Schools receiving the highest allocation at $13,686 per student.
Colorado's funding formula underwent its first major modernization in 30 years through legislation passed in 2024 and 2025, but the October Count remains the central mechanism for determining district funding eligibility. The state ranks in the bottom third nationally for per-pupil education spending, typically placing between 32nd and 38th among all states.
The district acknowledges that maintaining perfect attendance can be challenging for some families. Transportation barriers, work schedule conflicts, and health concerns can create obstacles for students getting to school consistently.
To address these challenges, PSD offers several support programs including free bus transportation for students living beyond designated walking distances, McKinney-Vento homeless support services with specialized transportation, school-based mental health teams, and partnerships with local agencies for wraparound services. The district also provides free breakfast and lunch programs for qualifying students to address food insecurity that can impact attendance.
Chronic absenteeism has become an increasing concern for Colorado districts following the pandemic, with rates often exceeding 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels of 7-10%. This trend has affected districts throughout Larimer and Weld counties, making the October Count period particularly significant for maintaining stable funding.
Families experiencing attendance challenges are encouraged to contact their school's front office, teachers, or counseling staff for resources and support. The district emphasized its commitment to working with families to ensure every student has the opportunity to learn and succeed.
The official count date of October 1 represents just one day, but consistent attendance throughout the month helps establish accurate enrollment patterns that influence funding calculations. With Colorado's new funding formula being phased in over seven years, the data collected during this period will have lasting implications for district resources and programming.