SANDY — Some 25,000 new students in 10 years, a possible $800 million bond and a potential school district split that could saddle the west side with a huge bill — this is what Jordan District officials say is coming for the state's largest school district.

Jordan officials presented staggering growth numbers and some "what ifs" Wednesday to about 150 city leaders, legislators and education leaders in a growth summit. (See www.jordandistrict.org/growth for more information.)

The overall picture might look overwhelming. But it changes depending on the angle.

Five Jordan District cities — Draper, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Alta and Midvale — and Salt Lake County are studying whether to create an east-side school district. Some city leaders think Jordan's presentation could fuel that fire.

"It looks pretty good for the east side," West Jordan Mayor Dave Newton said after the presentation. There, growth is absent, schools conceivably could be in jeopardy of closing, and taxes could be kept down under the district projections.

"Certainly we know growth is on the west side and we need to take the lion's share of that burden. But the bigger question may be, will smaller districts help us be more effective?"

The state's largest school district of 78,500 students expects to grow by 17 percent by 2016, under what the district calls conservative projections. Growth is expected to be uneven, with declines expected in Alta, Brighton, Jordan and West Jordan high school areas.

Some other areas' growth is staggering. Bingham High's area is expected to leap from 11,540 to 20,600 in the next decade. Copper Hills' could nearly double from 9,800 to 18,700. Riverton's, from 13,400 to 22,400.

The greatest crowding is expected in the elementary schools.

"Unless something is done to increase the number of seats available, a very real solution in those schools would be ... double sessions," meaning the school would be split in half, with one group of youngsters going in the early morning, others until 7:30 at night, Superintendent Barry Newbold said.

The district needs nearly $1 billion for 39 renovation projects and 26 new schools to keep up with growth.

That could mean it goes after a $779 million bond — unprecedented in the state of Utah. (It has $196 million left from a 2003 bond.) For taxpayers, the new bond could mean an annual property tax increase of up to $71 on a $100,000 home. That's on top of the $98 now paid for debt service on the same price of a house.

"I know, it's staggering," deputy superintendent Burke Jolley said.