Cherokee School District Enrollment Continues To Surge

The Cherokee County School District continues to exceed predictions when it comes to its student enrollment.

On Friday, Aug. 15, which was the school district’s 10th day of the 2014-15 school year, a total of 40,394 students reported to class. That’s an increase of 844 students from the 10th day enrollment for the 2013-14 school year, the district said in a press release on Friday.

With the additional enrollment of 934 students since the first day of school, Cherokee has exceeded its projected peak enrollment of 40,200 by 194 students.

“The superintendent and his staff continue to closely monitor this growth to determine where staffing adjustments may be needed in the coming days and weeks, as well as to begin developing plans for potential new school construction,” the school district said in a press release.

During the Cherokee County School Board’s meeting on Thursday, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower said the growth can be attributed to higher than anticipated transfer students from Cherokee Charter Academy, which total 297 students across all grades and a recovering economy.

Class size in elementary schools across the district has improved due to funding appropriated by the school board in its 2014-15 annual budget, Dr. Hightower said.

“The allotments you approved in the budget are really paying off,” he said, noting that kindergarten is down to an average of 21.5 students – significantly lower than the approved maximum of 26 and down by about two students per class from last school year.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said the response from parents and teachers has been overwhelming.

“The teachers are certainly happy about the small cost-of-living increase and longevity steps, and they’re delighted there are no more furlough days, but more than anything, they are thrilled with the extra attention they can give kids with fewer kids in the classroom,” he said, noting that, as long as the governor and state legislature continue the trend of reducing state austerity budget cuts, the school district will be able to begin reducing class sizes next school year in middle and high schools.