Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

GCISD Population Sees Slight Increase

District Edges Closer to 14,000 as Students Prepare for First Day of Classes on Monday

By Scott Price

Staff Writer

Despite slowing growth in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, 137 more students than last year are expected in school when classes begin Monday.

The growth edges the district closer to 14,000, at 13,879 students.

The three schools that are expecting the most growth this year are Bear Creek Elementary, Colleyville Middle and Grapevine High schools. A few other schools are projected to see a slight population decrease, including Heritage Middle and Dove Elementary.

Grapevine High School had 2,114 students at the end of last school year. This year the high school expects 2,177 students.

"We added a little bit of growth and that is exciting," said GHS Principal Jerry Hollingsworth.

GHS will begin its 102nd year on Monday. "We love our tradition," Hollingsworth said.

Bear Creek Elementary in Euless ended last school year with 670 students. This year, according to Bear Creek Principal Brook Moose, the campus is expected to include 723 students.

Bear Creek Principal Brook Moose said there are a couple of housing subdivisions that are not as far along as was projected. So she is expecting about 710 students this year.

Moose said the first through fifth grades are expected to see growth of 10 to 16 students in each of those grade levels.

Last year, Bear Creek Elementary included students who spoke a total of 21 languages. Moose said the same is expected this year, because the area includes many students from Asia and the Middle East.

"We are excited about our growth and the opportunities at Bear Creek," she said.

Colleyville Middle School saw the 2007-08 school year end with 731 students. This year the school expects 774 students.

Toni Thalken, Colleyville Middle School principal, said the growth mandated the hiring of two more teachers.

During the week before students arrive, the teachers and school staff receive a series of training programs, from team building to safety procedures.

"We really work on our culture and our climate and some of the things we want to instill in the students on our campus," Thalken said.