By Kira Walters, Staff Writer
Even a global pandemic could not stop the influx of people on the Outer Banks. Families from all over have been coming here for a fresh start.
But what does this mean for the few schools in the county?
First Flight has, for a long time, been a well-populated school. However, the school has not ever had as many students enrolling.
“My understanding is that the school is designed for having about 810 students and right now we are around 980, but of those 980, 65 or so are virtual,” Principal Chuck Lansing said. “That really only puts us about 100 over capacity.”
Even with a high carrying capacity, First Flight has been over-capacity for multiple years.
“This year’s total population is 966, whereas last year it was around 881,” guidance counselor Beth Garrett said.
Staff members at First Flight are seeing the effects of having so many new students, including the counselors.
“In the three years I’ve been here, this is definitely the most new students I’ve had to enroll,” Garret said.
On the flipside, fewer students are un-enrolling than in years past.
“This year we’ve only had 42 students withdraw compared to last year where we had 85. The year before that we had 61 students withdraw,” Garrett said. “So this year is the least amount we’ve had withdrawn in the past three years with the most enrolling.”
One of the many new students this year is sophomore James Dudeck, from Troy, New York.
“Transferring schools was interesting considering getting a hold on the different curriculums and different classes and stuff like that, but overall it was pretty seamless,” Dudeck said. “I love it here. It’s pretty great. I mean, I’m still getting used to it, but so far it’s been really nice.”
Junior Aeden Savage was another student who is new to First Flight this year, and he too is adjusting to the change well.
“I moved here from Woodbridge, Virginia,” Savage said. “It was definitely a new experience, transferring schools, but it was kind of fun to meet new people. Changing the address was pretty difficult, but other than that it went well. I like it here.”
While it is great to have all these new faces, First Flight is visibly over-capacity. Every seat is filled in most classrooms and there aren’t enough classrooms for each teacher to have their own, so many have to move around throughout the day. It can sometimes take up to 30 minutes to simply get out of the parking lot.
“We are over-capacity. Our classes are definitely more full, if you just look around. Most are at the capacity of the room,” Garrett said.
But like many modern buildings, First Flight was built with the intent to expand.
“I heard the area behind the media center and the wing that goes off of that side of the building was left open in order to be built on at a later time,” Lansing said. “It’s not something that has even been mentioned or talked about yet. Obviously, if we keep going up at a rate of 100 or more students per year, at some point it would have to be discussed.”
While expansion is an option, Lansing explains that it’s not a possibility in the near future.
“It’s not a problem, it’s just something we need to get used to,” Lansing said. “Some classes may be bigger than they used to be, but there’s always the possibility of more teachers if the numbers continue.”
Sophomore Kira Walters can be reached @24walterski77@daretolearn.org.
