Back to school starts Thursday

UNDATED - Summer vacation is coming to an end for youngsters all over Georgia, with school beginning in a few days in many places in the state, including parts of northeast Georgia.

AccessNorthGa.com's annual survey of public schools in the immediate Gainesville areas (and private institutions in Hall County) shows that while a number of new classrooms have been added over the summer, only Forsyth County reports that it will be opening a new school, Kelly Mill Elementary.

In addition, Hall County school officials report that the old South Hall Middle School facility has undergone "major renovations" and is now The Academies of Discovery, and will house The Da Vinci Academy and grades 4-7 of the World Language Academy.

In the Gainesville City School System, the P.K. Dixon Field House will open at Bobby Gruhn Field next month.

Most school systems in the area expect first-day enrollment to remain flat from a year ago or increase slightly. No system reports expecting enrollment on the first day of school to be less than last year.

Two school systems will begin the new year next week, Jefferson City Schools on Thursday and Buford City Schools on Friday. Monday, August 6, is the big day, though. That's when classes start in Banks, Gwinnett, Jackson and Lumpkin counties, as well as the City of Commerce system. School opens for the new year in Hall County and Gainesville, Friday, August 10. Habersham has the latest start date of any public school system in the area, Thursday, August 16. Three private schools in Gainesville won't open until late August - Lakeview Academy on August 22 and Riverside Military Academy and Brenau Academy on August 27.

System-by-system information (source each school system):

BANKS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 6

Projected first-day enrollment: 2,920

Increase/decrease over last year: Approximately the same number as last year

New schools, major renovations/additions: Currently adding a "Ninth Grade Transition" building to the high school. Construction should be complete in June 2013.


BARROW COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 13

Projected first-day enrollment: 12,900

Increase/decrease over last year: About the same

New schools, major renovations/additions: No new schools will open for the 2012-13 school year; however, a replacement for Winder-Barrow Middle School is currently under construction and a new Career Academy is also in the early project stage.


BUFORD CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 3

Projected first-day enrollment: 3,650

Increase/decrease over last year: An increase of 200

New schools, major renovations/additions: None


COMMERCE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 6

Projected first-day enrollment: 1,450

Increase/decrease over last year: 0

New schools, major renovations/additions: Central office was moved to a new location over the summer.


DAWSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 9

Projected first-day enrollment: 3,400

Increase/decrease over last year: 0

New schools, major renovations/additions: None


FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 9

Projected first-day enrollment: 38,348

Increase/decrease over last year: 3% increase

New schools, major renovations/additions: Opening 36th school, Kelly Mill Elementary


GAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 10

Projected first-day enrollment: 7,328

Increase/decrease over last year: An increase of 275

New schools, major renovations/additions: Wood's Mill Academy and Centennial Arts Academy have new roofing systems. Enota has interior renovations and painting as well as fence work and will have new roofing and HVAC system installed in summer of 2013. The new Fair Street IB World School is under construction and should open by December 2013. The P.K. Dixon Field House at Bobby Gruhn Field will open in August.

GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 6

Projected first-day enrollment: 163,062

Increase/decrease over last year: Increase of 692

New schools, major renovations/additions: The Gwinnett County Online Campus expands to serve middle school students, grades 6-8.


HABERSHAM COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: Aug.16

Projected first-day enrollment: 6,849

Increase/decrease over last year: Increase of 154 students

New schools, major renovations/additions: None


HALL COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 10

Projected first-day enrollment: 26,400

Increase/decrease over last year: Increase of about 200

New schools, major renovations/additions: The old South Hall Middle School facility has undergone major renovations and is now The Academies of Discovery, housing The Da Vinci Academy (grades 6-8) and grades 4-7 of the World Language Academy.


JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 6

Projected first-day enrollment: Unknown, according to school officials

Increase/decrease over last year: Unknown, according to school officials

New schools, major renovations/additions: New drama-chorus building under construction at Jackson County High School (expected to finished in March 2013) and new gym under construction at the high school (expected to be finished in late July 2013)


JEFFERSON CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 2

Projected first-day Enrollment: 2,875

Increase/Decrease: Increase of 50

New schools, major renovations/additions: New Jefferson High School gym. Jefferson High School classroom building and kitchen. Additional wing at Jefferson Elementary School, housing classrooms, kitchen, cafeteria.


LUMPKIN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 6

Projected first-day enrollment: 4,000

Increase/decrease: 0

New schools, major renovations/additions: New 6th Grade Academy (located at Lumpkin County Middle School)


WHITE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

First day of school: August 8

Projected first-day enrollment: 3,895

Increase/decrease over last year: Increase of 22

New schools, major renovations/additions: None


Among the private schools in Hall County that responded to our requests for information in time for the posting of this story, classes begin August 15 at North Georgia Christian School; August 22 at Lakeview Academy; August 27 at Riverside Military Academy; August 17 at Maranatha Christian Academy; August 17 at Heritage Academy; August 8 at Chattahoochee Christian School; August 27 at Brenau Academy; and August 15 at Jubilee Christian Academy.