10th-day enrollment numbers exceed last year's final tally for Hamilton County schools

It only took 10 days for the number of students enrolled in Hamilton County schools to exceed the final tally of students enrolled in schools last year.

The office of Superintendent Rick Smith said that on the 10th day of school, a total of 42,435 students were enrolled in the school system. The number is greater than last year's final 20-day mark of 42,236.

Compared to last year's 10-day numbers, the number of additional students has increased by 426. Keeping in line with recent trends, the largest amount of growth was seen in the county's elementary schools. 

It is the most students recorded in Hamilton County schools at the 10-day mark in the past four years. 

In high schools, a total of 11,823 students were recorded, 69 more than at this point last year. In middle schools, a total of 9,578 students were recorded, 153 more than at this point last year. 

Elementary schools have added 204 additional students, bringing their overall total to 21,034.

The new numbers will have an impact on future teacher hires and shifts made by the central office. In a recent interview with Nooga.com, Smith said his team would start comparing teacher-to-student ratios and soon begin the process of filling any gaps. 

"We'll use [the numbers] as a decision maker," he said.