More students crowd county classrooms
By Donna C. Gregory ASSISTANT EDITOR

According to Chesterfield County Public Schools' latest enrollment numbers, classrooms grew by another 1,178 students this school year. The increase brings the total number of county students to 57,928, which includes 344 students who attend governor's schools.

On average, Chesterfield student enrollments increase by around 1,000 students each year, filling many county schools to capacity and forcing most schools to hold classes in trailers. This year's trailer count totals 284 with the most mobile units found at Manchester Middle [23], Spring Run Elementary [18], Falling Creek Middle [17], Swift Creek Middle [17] and Harrowgate Elementary [14].

At the elementary level, slightly more than half of the county's 36 schools are operating above capacity with Marguerite Christian Elementary experiencing the largest space shortage. With a functional capacity of 688 students, the school's current student enrollment is 955 students - 39 percent over capacity. Overcrowding will be relieved at Marguerite next fall after redistricting in the Bermuda District.

Spring Run Elementary is in a similar situation with 1,303 students attending school in a building that was only designed for 943, bringing it to 38 percent over capacity.

Other schools operating over capacity include Bettie Weaver Elementary [32 percent], Harrowgate Elementary [29 percent], Gates Elementary [27 percent] and Bellwood Elementary [19 percent].

Eight of the county's 12 middle schools are at or over capacity. Swift Creek Middle shows the largest space crunch with 1,454 students attending classes in a school only built for 1,027 - 42 percent over capacity. Runners up are Manchester Middle [23 percent], Chester Middle [19 percent] and Robious Middle [16 percent].

At the high school level, seven of the county's 10 schools are suffering from overcrowding. Meadowbrook and Thomas Dale are both 25 percent over capacity. The opening of Cosby High this fall relieved crowded classrooms at Clover Hill and Manchester, but both schools are still over capacity at one percent and 11 percent respectively.

The school system is currently building two elementary schools and two middle schools to combat overcrowding.