ZEPHYR COVE — Enrollment has done something at Douglas County School District’s lake schools that it hasn’t done in years – it’s gone up.

The increase from last year is 1.9 percent – which is eight students – but it is a sign things may be starting to level off.

Enrollment was on such a dramatic decline that Kingsbury Middle School closed a couple years ago, making Zephyr Cove Elementary a K-6 and Whittell High a 7-12.

Overall, enrollment in DCSD is down 1.1 percent from 2010 or 68 students. Valley schools are down 76 students or 1.9 percent.

The peak enrollment at the Lake Tahoe schools since 1990-91 was in 1997-98 with 942 students. This year there are 439 students at the lake.

Holly Luna, CFO for the district, at Tuesday’s meeting said, “Overall, grade levels are getting smaller.”

However, Luna cautioned, “One year does not make a trend.”

— Kathryn Reed