Forsyth County schools struggle to keep up with growing student population

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — As thousands of students head back to school Thursday morning, officials are working on a plan for one of the fastest growing school systems in the state.

Channel 2's Audrey Washington spoke to Forsyth County's schools superintendent about the county's strategy to build and expand.

"We are very much in a state of construction," said superintendent Jeff Bearden.

We’ve all heard the saying, “if you build it, they will come,” but what do you do if they’re already here -- with more on the way?

That’s the issue Forsyth County district officials are tackling in one of the fastest growing school systems in the state.

"But the reality is we're growing by 1,500 to 1,800 every single year and it’s a real challenge for our community and our school system to keep up with the growth,” Bearden said.

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Bearden said to remedy the problem, residents passed a bond in 2014 for close to $200 million just to build new schools and renovate or expand others.

"Do you think you guys will ever run out of room?"

When asked if he thinks the county could ever run out of room, Bearden said, “Well eventually you do. The southern part of our county is pretty much maxed out right now.”

Two new schools are set to open in 2018. But before that, the school board will draw new district lines.

"The school board next year will go through the process of redistricting,” Bearden said. “They've already started looking at maps and lines."

The superintendent also said that at capacity, one of the new schools will be able to house up to 2,500 students.

The two new high schools are set to open in the fall of 2018.

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