Howard County School District, centered on the planned community of Columbia, has seen a 21 percent increase in school enrollment in the last five years, with the greatest pressure at the middle and high school levels. Howard County School District is projecting enrollment to increase to 46,280 in the next five years. Two elementary schools are now under construction and two new middle schools will be built in 1999. By the year 2006, Howard County will have built two new high schools and created additional classroom space in four existing high schools.

In Frederick County School District, 21 of the 48 schools in the district are over 100 percent of the state-rated capacity. Twelve of the county's elementary schools, four middle schools and five high schools fit this category. In 1997 alone, to meet the demand of the baby boom echo and growing retirements, 213 teachers were hired. In the last five years, the county saw a 18 percent enrollment increase and it expects 900 additional students in fall 1998, which will bring total enrollment to 35,260. By the year 2000, that number is expected to have climbed to 36,880.

Student enrollment in Prince Georges County School District surged to 128,000 students this year, making it the largest school system in the state. The county plans to construct 13 schools in the next six years. Its efforts will be supported by new state money -- $3 million a year over the next four years.

The Montgomery County school system, with a budget of over $1 billion, has hired 750 new teachers for the 1998 school year and is opening three new high schools, including the long-awaited Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. Nine schools are currently being built or modernized. The 1998 school year will begin with close to 128,000 students.

Baltimore County Public Schools face significant growth due, in part, to the state's requirement that "all children 5 years of age be in kindergarten or a similar approved program, which was formerly voluntary." In order to accommodate the growing number of students -- 106,400 in 1998 -- the county will build two new elementary schools and one new secondary school in addition to adding classrooms to 13 existing schools at a cost of $361,934,000. The county has a ten-year record of successfully passing bond issues as it goes to the voters this fall with a new $85,000,000 bond issue.

Calvert County School District is a good example of a rapidly expanding school district. According to the Maryland State Department of Education, Calvert boasts of being "the fastest growing county in Maryland." From 1992 to 1997, Calvert County experienced a 26.9 percent increase in total enrollment, from 11,615 to 14,736. The 1998 school year will begin with an estimated 14,940 students.

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