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19 <br /> Space Considerations <br /> 1) Class Size and School Capacity <br /> The Collaboration Work Group recommends that traditional school capacity be in <br /> accordance with State class size/teaching station requirements as outlined in <br /> North Carolina General Statute 115C-301. <br /> Elementary School - For school year 2006-07, elementary class size/teaching <br /> station requirements are: <br /> • Average of 21 students per class in grades kindergarten through three <br /> • Average of 26 students per class in grades four and five <br /> • 10 students per class in special needs classrooms <br /> Based on the average class sizes outlined above the capacity of a traditional <br /> elementary school totals 585 students — a reduction of 15 students from the <br /> previous County standards of 600 students. <br /> Middle School — Middle school includes grades six through eight. For school <br /> year 2006-07, middle school State class size requirements are: <br /> • Average of 26 students per class in grades six through eight <br /> • 10 students per class in special needs classrooms <br /> Based on the average class sizes outlined above, for school year 2006-07, the <br /> capacity of a traditional middle school averages 700 students. <br /> High School — High school includes grades nine through twelve. For school <br /> year 2006-07, high school class sizes allow for: <br /> • Regular classrooms with a minimum capacity 20. students per <br /> class/teaching station <br /> • Vocational Education class rooms with a capacity ranging from 15 to 20 <br /> students per class/teaching station <br /> • All other classrooms range from 15 to 25 students per class/teaching <br /> station <br /> o For example a theater arts class room may have upper range <br /> capacity while exceptional education class rooms would be on the <br /> lower end of the spectrum <br /> For school year 2006-07, the capacity of a traditional high school ranges <br /> between 1,000 and 1,500 students. <br /> The Work Group further recommends that should the General Assembly amend <br /> class sizes at any level, the County's School Construction Standards should be <br /> amended within some reasonable timeframe that would allow for consideration of <br /> 6 <br />