By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@thecitizennews.com

When the school bell rings next Thursday, nearly 17,000 students will be heading back to classes in Coweta County.

That's up nearly 500 students from last year, but Superintendent of Education Richard Brooks said the real numbers won't be known until after Labor Day, since some parents won't send their students to school until Sept. 5.

Returning students will discover 25 new classrooms at Newnan Crossing Elementary School, along with other additions at Northgate High School, Eastside Elementary and Northside Elementary.

But the biggest change in the system will be the opening of the Central Education Center. The center offers vocational classes in conjunction with regular high school classes.

When the center is fully operational, a student will be able to graduate from the high school program at the center and move immediately into technical college programs the next year at the same facility.

The county's three public high schools will feed students into the center, which also will offer continuing education programs, along with an evening high school. Classes will be offered Monday through Thursday evenings. Math, science, English and social studies classes will be initially offered.

The schedule for the night high school has students arriving at 4 p.m. and the last class ending at 10:25 p.m.

Students 16-21 who have not received their diplomas can enroll at the school full-time without paying tuition. Any other students will pay $300 a course and a $50 book deposit. Late registration will cost the student $25 and there is a $15 science lab fee.

“We're looking for about 450 students at Central,” Brooks said.

Central has been touted as a seamless approach to education and Brooks is excited about the opportunities it will offer Coweta's students.

Though Brooks has been through several school openings, he always gets excited about the opening of school, he said.

“Everyone's excited. It's just like you're a kid and anticipating that first day,” he said.