HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Houston County schools are experiencing a surge in enrollment as the area’s population grows. To manage the increase, a new school is opening, and educators are adjusting to the changes.
At the newly built Matt Arthur Primary School, teachers said they're excited for the upcoming year. The new school aims to alleviate overcrowded classrooms, which have raised concerns about the teacher-to-student ratio.
Principal Alicia Conner believes these adjustments will create a better learning environment and reduce the stresses associated with crowded classes.
“New schools are opening, and teachers are seeing more diversity in their classrooms as the new school year approaches,” Tracy Piazzon Gordon, a teacher at the new school, said. “It has been a lot of joy because finally we are in a classroom and we get to unpack and get ready to welcome our students.”
Matt Arthur Primary School, located just down the road from Matt Arthur Elementary, is set to open its doors this year. Principal Conner said she's excited about the new beginning and the relief it will bring to students and staff.
“Like I said, there is some bittersweet too. The people that were at Matt Arthur Elementary – family, students, and teachers – they are used to being over there, and they are family over there, so we’re just bringing the family over here and we are calling it a sister school,” Conner said.
Superintendent Mark Scott, who announced his retirement following this upcoming school year, highlighted the importance of the E-SPLOST in enabling the district to expand and renovate campuses.
“We are very happy, and the district has done an outstanding job over the last 20 years of really making a priority to our facilities and making sure our students have a safe, clean, and conditioned space to have school,” Scott said.
Despite his impending retirement, Superintendent Scott emphasized the district’s continued efforts to grow schools in the county, noting that E-SPLOST projects are scheduled through 2027.
The district renovated three schools last summer while also opening Hilltop Elementary School. Construction on Matt Arthur Primary School started last year, with finishing touches being completed before the first day of class on July 31.