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r s <br />Section II <br />residential projects in the Orange County portion of Mebane and Hillsborough. In addition, OCS <br />is placing a heavy emphasis on Pre-K programming which may also impact capacity at district <br />elementary schools. <br />In 2007, State Statutes were amended so that effective the 2009-2010 school year, children <br />entering kindergarten must be five years old by August 31st of the year starting school, versus <br />the previous statewide policy date of October 16th. Effective this school year, this policy change <br />resulted in a 45 week enrollment period as opposed to the typical 52 week enrollment period. <br />Enrollment for 2010-11 will include the typica152 week enrollment period, which will <br />significantly increase kindergarten enrollment from 2009-10. Based on projections, 525 <br />kindergarteners were projected to start the 2009-2010 school year. However, with the <br />enrollment date change, the kindergarten total for 2009-10 is artificially low and should be <br />adjusted for 2010-11. The 7 week reduction in 2009-10 amounts to 68 students based on the 525 <br />projected kindergarten students for 2009-10; those 68 students would then be added to the <br />projected ZO10-11 kindergarten membership. The projection models have been modified to <br />address the additional kindergarteners that should be entering the school system next year. <br />Middle <br />The previous year (2008) projections for November 2009 for this level were underestimated by <br />37 students. The actual membership increased by 64. Over the previous eight (8) years, growth <br />has varied widely and included an unexpected decrease of 78 students in 2004-OS with smaller <br />decreases each year unti12007-08 and then increasing this year. However, certain models did <br />reflect the negative growth (-185) at the elementary school level in 2001-2002 as they progress <br />into the middle school cohorts. The district's third Middle School, Gravelly Hill Middle School, <br />opened in October 2006. The need for an additional Middle School is not anticipated in the 10- <br />year projection period. However, staff is closely monitoring new sizeable residential projects in <br />the Orange County portion of Mebane and Hillsborough. <br />High School <br />The previous year (2008) projections for November 2009 for this level underestimated by 7 <br />students. The actual membership decreased by 25. Over the previous eight (8) years, growth <br />32 <br />