Moorhead Area Public Schools welcomed 7,366 students in grades K–12 for the first day of the 2026–27 school year on August 31. This year’s opening enrollment is 12 students less than last year’s opening enrollment. These numbers are preliminary and do not include preschool students. Enrollment numbers typically fluctuate during the first weeks of school and stabilize in October and November.
The district’s largest class is the 12th Grade with 668 students and 482 students were welcomed into the new kindergarten class. The 2026–27 enrollment reflects the district’s stable enrollment levels in recent years. Historical opening enrollments for comparison include:
2025–26: 7,378
2024–25: 7,466
2023–24: 7,348
2022–23: 7,427
2021–22: 7,336
“We are excited to welcome our students and families back for another school year,” said Dr. Brandon Lunak, Superintendent of Moorhead Area Public Schools. “This year’s theme, Spotlight on Success, reflects our commitment to recognizing every student's unique journey, whether in academics, the trades, athletics, or the arts. The completion of Phase 2 and our new Moorhead High School theater gives our students a premier stage to excel. We look forward to turning up the lights on every achievement, big or small, alongside our exceptional staff, families, and community.”
This fall marks the completion of the entire Moorhead High School construction project, which was celebrated with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening concert on August 18. On opening day, all Phase 2 fine arts classrooms as well as the state-of-the-art theater were complete and open for student use. This new space serves as a physical reminder of the stage being set for student growth districtwide. Phase 1 of the high school opened to students in January 2024.