AUGUSTA — Augusta’s school population is projected to grow over the next decade, with roughly 155 more students expected in 2021 than the 2,369 in Augusta’s public schools now.

Seeking student population projections to use in making decisions about buildings and other long-term issues, city school officials contracted with Planning Decisions to estimate how many students Augusta could have every year from now until the 2021-2022 school year.

The Portland-based firms projects 2,524 students will attend the city’s schools by 2021. The last time the schools had more than 2,500 students was 2007, when 2,545 students attended public school in Augusta.

Augusta Board of Education members meet Wednesday in a workshop session to hear a Planning Decisions presentation on school enrollment projections. The board meets at 7 p.m. at the Capital Area Technical Center.

The projections are based on multiple factors, including the number of new housing units built annually, data on people moving in and out of the city, birth trends and other information.

The Planning Decisions report notes an increase in the average annual number of births and a decline in the number of young people moving out of the district before they start school has resulted in first grade class sizes that have increased on average over the last decade. And the consulting firm expects that trend to continue.

Board members are also scheduled Wednesday to consider awarding a $146,000 bid to replace windows at Gilbert Elementary School to Oakes & Parkhurst Glass.

 


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