Schools

No Cherokee Schools are "Critically Overcrowded"

However, nine schools currently operate at or above 100 percent of its capacity when portables are factored into the school district's calculation.

For the first time in the last 15 years, no Cherokee County School District facility is critically overcrowded.

The district on Tuesday released its annual Inventory of School Housing report, and none of the district's elementary, middle or high schools exceeds 140 percent of its capacity, a benchmark set by the Cherokee County School Board.

"This achievement is a reflection of the school district's long standing successful policies governing student enrollment growth forecasts and planning school construction to accommodate growth and is a tribute to the leadership and foresight of the school board," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said in a memo.

The report is based upon the district's 20th day enrollment reportfor the 2013-14 school year.  

No school is deemed critically overcrowded when the district does not factor in the use of portables. 

However, once the district factors in portable classrooms, nine schools operate at 100 or above its capacity: Free Home ElementaryLittle River ElementaryCreekland Middle School,E.T. Booth Middle SchoolFreedom Middle SchoolMill Creek Middle SchoolCherokee High SchoolEtowah High School andWoodstock High School.

Only one school — Little River — currently operates at 110 percent or greater than its capacity. 

The district's use of portable classrooms only provides relief for classrooms inside the main building. It does not tackle overcrowding in places such as the media center, cafeteria, restrooms or hallways. 

Petruzielo pointed out the new Booth building actually alleviated overcrowding not only at that school, but also at Etowah. The replacement facility for Teasley Middle School — currently at 118% capacity with the use of portable classrooms — will provide relief similar to that of Booth and will also allow ACE Academy in Holly Springs to move to the old Teasley building.

That move for ACE will allow the school to accept all students on its waiting list, the superintendent said. 

The attached .PDF has a list of each of the district's facilities' current population, their capacities and how many portable classrooms are in use. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here