Overcrowded Ft Mill Schools: No New Enrollment. (Charlotte, Huntersville: lease, school district) - North Carolina (NC) - City-Data Forum

Carolina_native · 03-07-2007, 05:34 PM

On WBTV news, also there is a link and video on the website, stated that beginning May 2007 Gold Hill Elementary will not be accepting any new students due to the school being beyond capacity. New students will have to go to Riverview Elementary instead. School officials stated that Riverview Elementary has 640 students out of a 900 capacity. It is unknown where any new students will go after that school is filled.

Officials also state that a new elementary school will not open until 2009, and by then they say they will need 2 more additional schools.

**I know Ft Mill is over the state line in SC, but felt it was important to post in the Charlotte forum due to many commuting from Charlotte and Ft Mill**

MJPost32 · 03-07-2007, 05:42 PM

That sucks for people that bought in Ft mill to send their kids to those schools!

lovesMountains · 03-07-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJPost32

That sucks for people that bought in Ft mill to send their kids to those schools!

But to be fair, they've had lots of warning this was coming for months now.

Carolina_native · 03-07-2007, 06:42 PM

More than likely, news like this does not discourage anyone. If there was a news story about a 24 hr back up of people trying to get into the Carolinas, they would still come. But I post things like this so people will realize the enormous infrastructure strain the increasing population is having. Until word gets out that there are actually places to live outside of Charlotte metro, it will continue.

lovethecarolinas · 03-07-2007, 08:11 PM

Geez...I go away for a little bit and look what happens!

First off...yes, as of the next school year there will be a freeze on new enrollment at Gold Hill Elementary (and as lovesmoutains has stated this has been talked about for some time). This is not the first time we have had a freeze at Gold Hill (there was another many years ago...until the school was added on to).

Currently there is an enrollment freeze at Orchard Park Elementary and more than likely it will continue through next year as well (although they are waiting to see if there will be any adjustments with the count...and if any children could be added to....how they would consider doing it?)

Okay with that said we have 3 other elementary schools (Riverview - Fort Mill - and Springfield Elementary) within the district that are Not over capacity. Another thing to realize is...the elementary schools have Not used mobile classrooms..but that now is being taken into consideration (from what I understand though...they do not have room for mobile units at Orchard).

Now in regard to middle schools...none are at capacity (there are 3 now - as a new middle school was added last year)

We currently have 1 High School that is bursting at the seams (they do have some mobile units at the high school). But a brand spanking new high school is set to open at the start of the new school season.

So while the school is growing by leaps and bounds...the biggest concerns currently are at the elementary school level. While not a perfect situation/solution.. having children rerouted to another school...the child will still be within the Fort Mill School District (and for any of you folks that have never been to Fort Mill...we aren't all that big in size).

For me...what I think is possibly a far bigger concern...is the lowering of our (school) taxes...I believe this will attract even more people to the SC area...and then when that happens...what becomes of the schools when they no longer have the monies that they had access to before? (that is what I am keeping my eye on).

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/local/story/6403981p-5710516c.html (broken link) (there is another more current article..that will more than likely be avail online tomorrow)

http://www.fort-mill.k12.sc.us/Schools/Schools.htm

niknaxx · 03-10-2007, 12:55 AM

As far as growth areas, what schools aren't bursting at the seems? It's everywhere and we experienced it in FL. We have a school assignment that isn't the best here in Huntersville, but with growth it probably will change as another school gets added. It's the same problems everywhere that's growing...

megassel · 03-10-2007, 07:55 AM

Won't the proposed York County school bonds more than offset the removal of the school tax? Or am I not understanding clearly? (Admittedly, I haven't done research beyond hearing a few snippets on the news.) It sounded like they were just shifting what KIND of tax goes to the schools, and the ultimate outlay would increase per household.

Doesn't bother me, I'm more than happy to pay school taxes as long as you can see the money being spent wisely.

We're signing our lease on Wednesday - just for the purpose of becoming legal residents of Fort Mill so the kids can go to Gold Hill! We'll be full time down there at the end of the month. I CAN'T WAIT for the shorter commute!

Carolina_native · 03-10-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niknaxx

As far as growth areas, what schools aren't bursting at the seems? It's everywhere and we experienced it in FL. We have a school assignment that isn't the best here in Huntersville, but with growth it probably will change as another school gets added. It's the same problems everywhere that's growing...

Read my original post again. No new additional schools until 2009. And by then the school system says it will need 2 more schools. Its actually not the same everywhere, there is truly no where to send the extra students...