By Krista Wadsworth
Frisco ISD has a 2014–15 enrollment of 49,448 based on figures released at the board of trustees' September meeting.
Those figures were 158 students over the enrollment projection of 49,290 predicted by Population and Survey Analysts, the district's outside demographer service.
The biggest difference was 132 more elementary students than projected.
Richard Wilkinson, FISD deputy superintendent of business services, said a large part of that is at least 40 transfers made for teachers' children to Ashley Elementary School, which district policy allows.
In early August the district capped Ashley Elementary enrollment at more than 850 students, which is more than 100 over capacity. Overflow students were sent to McSpedden Elementary School.
As a result of continued overcrowding the district agreed to expedite the construction of Elementary School No. 38, now named Norris Elementary School, to open in spring 2015.
"We reduced Ashley's zone again and we are still 100 over projection and having to come back to you a year quicker than we anticipated," Wilkinson said.
He said the demographers will in the future take into consideration possible transfers for employees' children.
FISD board names planned schools
In addition to Norris Elementary School, which will be built on Independence Parkway, just southeast of Independence High School, the board of trustees officially named three other planned schools at its Sept. 7 meeting.
High School No. 9, to be built south of the FISD Administration Building at Ohio Drive and Lebanon Drive, has been named Lebanon High School.
Middle School No. 15, near Stonebrook Parkway and Teel Parkway, has been named Pearson Middle School.
Middle School No. 16, at Coit Road and CR 68, has been named Lawler Middle School.