A record number of students passed through the doors of East Limestone High School when the school opened for business Wednesday.

Some 1,150 students in grades sixth through 12th – about 140 more than last year – showed up for the first day of classes, said Principal Dennis Black.

The number of sixth-graders alone increased from 160 last year to 184 this year, a total of 24.

“That’s two more students per teacher for every period,” Black said. Some 140 of those sixth graders came from Creekside, the eastern Limestone elementary school that houses students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Creekside also received a record number of students Wednesday – about 980, Black said. Principal Matt Scott was not available for comment.

Black says the increase in students is the result of new homes and of new people taking support jobs for Redstone Arsenal but choosing to live here.

Since 2000, Limestone County has grown 10 percent, according to the Limestone County Economic Development Association. That is well ahead of Morgan and Lawrence counties.

Much of the growth has occurred in eastern Limestone County and near Ardmore, officials say.

“It’s more than I thought we’d have,” Black said.

A total of 1,182 students signed up for classes at East, which leads Black to believe more will show in the coming weeks.

“We will have more tomorrow and after Labor Day, because some people actually scheduled vacations this week and will show up. There is always growth following the Labor Day holiday.”

We have seniors whose parents moved in for jobs,” Black said. “Part of it ties in with BRAC and part of it is people who have moved here to work for contractors that support work on the arsenal. (BRAC stands for Base Realignment and Closure, a government cost-cutting decision, which will result in the transfer of jobs from other bases to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.)

Despite the influx of students, Black said the first day went smoothly. But only because of the efforts of some school employees and volunteers.

“I want to give kudos to some people – Elaine Lauderdale, our assistant principal; Vicki Ferrara, our counselor; Kathy Mathis, our media specialist; and Cindy Stinnett, our counselor assistant. These four ladies organized and set up what are called scheduling days for the middle and high school, at which time students sign up for classes, get their schedules, pay for lockers and car passes. Another 22 parents volunteered to help during those scheduling days. It made for an awesome opening day.”