40,000 year-round students return to school in Wake County as district handles growth

WENDELL, N.C. (WNCN) — More than 40,000 students returned to the classroom in Wake County on Tuesday for the start of the school year.

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Lake Myra Elementary is one of the schools welcoming students back to the classroom. It’s also one of the schools having to adjust for growth.

Jake Olsen walked his daughter Alora into her first day of second grade at Lake Myra Elementary School. The school made the switch from a traditional calendar to a multi-track calendar this year. It meant students only had a few days in between school years.

“We only had a week, so we took my daughter to the beach,” Olsen said. “We did a lot of fun stuff just trying to give her a chance to get away for a little bit.”

Lake Myra Elementary School made the switch to the their calendar to accommodate for an increasing population.

The district’s forecasted growth has slowed. New data shows the student population will grow by about 2,600 students over the next decade. Projections made a few years ago showed the student population would grow by about 10,000 students.

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“It’s still full speed ahead,” Wake County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor said. “We do look at enrollment trends from one year to the next.”

He says the district needs to stay ahead of growth.

Wake County Public Schools is opening one new school in Fuquay-Varina this year. Three more schools in growing areas are planned over the next three years.

“It is about making sure we know where students are going to be, and then having the runway to make adjustments, as we need, over a five, ten year period,” Dr. Taylor said. 

As the superintendent focuses on the future of the district, parents today are excited about the future for their children.

“Lake Myra has wonderful teachers here,” Olsen said. “We are really excited to be back in school today.”

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