DECATUR, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Decatur school officials said they have seen enrollment jump 10 percent for the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 1.
In fact, enrollment in city schools has skyrocketed 30 percent since 2007.
"The difficult part, of course, is just not knowing," said Superintendent Phyllis Edwards. "The last two weeks before school opens, I walk in every day and see parents registering."
School officials said the huge growth in enrollment has been a challenge, so committees were formed earlier this year to discuss how to accommodate the growing number of students.
District leaders told CBS Atlanta News that they have been very aggressive in calculating enrollment projections and will be prepared to handle the additional students.
"I think we have three or four more years that we can handle this," Edwards said. "Certainly, we have been looking at what our long-range plan is going to be."
The district expects enrollment to continue growing in the future and will build four additional classrooms at the 4/5 Academy on Fifth Avenue, as well as make other adjustments.
Training for new teachers was going on Monday.
"It's incredibly competitive to get a teaching job in city schools of Decatur," said Heather Borowski, director of instructional training. "For our elementary positions, we have hundreds of applicants. Sometimes between 200 and 300."
Administrators said they can't explain the jump in enrollment but believe the quality of education has played a big role.
Parents agree.
"We've had a positive experience," said Robin Harp, a mother of two. "Excellent teachers, very community-oriented, very creative in the way they teach the material."
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