Cherokee School District Surpasses Student Enrollment Predictions

Staff Report

The Cherokee County School District has exceeded its projected peak enrollment several weeks ahead of schedule.

Enrollment for day five of the 2014-15 school year — Friday, Aug. 8 — reached 40,209 students, an increase of 823 students from last school year’s fifth-day of school.

With the additional enrollment of 34 students today and 749 students since the first day of school, Cherokee County has exceeded its projected peak enrollment of 40,200 by 9 students, the district said in its press release.

Peak enrollment usually is not reached until the 20th day of school. Contributing factors include the higher-than-anticipated number of transfers across all grades from Cherokee County Academy to district schools, the district added.

On Wednesday, the district made history when its student enrollment exceeded 40,000.

Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo and his staff already are closely monitoring this growth to determine where staffing adjustments may be needed in the coming days and weeks.

The first week of school went very smoothly, with the exception of a tornado warning issued Friday afternoon as many schools were dismissing.

Elementary school dismissal was briefly suspended when tornado warning sirens were activated in southern Cherokee shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Severe weather protocols were followed, and students who were currently at a school awaiting bus transport were held at the school. Buses already en route were diverted to the nearest school or public facility (fire station/police station) for shelter. The tornado warning was lifted shortly before 3 p.m., and all dismissal procedures resumed at that time.

Notification messages were posted on the district’s website and via social media to advise parents that transportation delays should be expected this afternoon as buses resumed their routes.