Cherokee County schools saw their enrollments climb in the first 10 days of school before the Labor Day holiday weekend.

There were 8,987 students enrolled in county schools last Friday for the 10th day of school this year. This was a 300-student increase from the 8,631 students that were in school on the first day of class Aug. 16.

The county’s school enrollments traditionally increase over the first two weeks with the addition of out-of-state students and the start of 4- year-old kindergarten programs.

There are more teachers available to teach in Cherokee County schools this year.

After hiring just one teacher in 2009, outgoing interim superintendent Kim Bagwell said the district brought in 75 teachers dating back to the June 14 school board meeting.

There were 48 new teachers and 27 working retired teachers who were brought back by school principals for the 2010-2011 school year. District figures show 14.3 percent of teachers are minorities.

“All of these teachers are not new positions,” Bagwell said. “Some are replacing teachers who retired or left the district. These are teachers who had to be replaced because the vacancies occurred in critical needs areas like math and science.”

While there is more turnover in this year’s teaching staff, the district had fewer students on the 10th day of school than it did two years ago.

The school district reported 9,326 students on the 10th day of school during the 2008-2009 school year. That figure is 8,987 students for the same period this school year.

Gaffney High is the largest county school with 2,063 students, including 654 freshmen attending classes in the school’s new ninth grade addition.

Blacksburg High has 560 students, including 137 students in its ninth grade addition.

Gaffney Middle is the largest middle school in the district with 623 students. Grassy Pond Elementary has the most elementary students with 511 students.

Goucher Elementary is the smallest school in the district with 279 students. WHERE ARE THEY?

HIGH SCHOOLS

 Gaffney High has 2,063 students

 Blacksburg High has 560 students

NINTH GRADES

 At Gaffney, 654 students

 At Blacksburg, 137 students

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

 Gaffney Middle is the largest, with 623 students

ELEMENTARY

 Grassy Pond has the most students, 511; Goucher Elementary has the fewest, 279