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Students at Verbena Elementary School enjoying their first day of school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Students at Jemison Elementary School eating lunch during the first day of school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Verbena High School assistant principal Brooke Sullivan helping students. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Students’ backpacks inside Maplesville High School signifies the beginning of another school year. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Third grade students at Isabella High School were excited for the first day of school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

All Chilton County Schools students will receive free breakfast and lunch throughout this school year. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Third-grade students at Thorsby High School on the first day of school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Students at Jemison Elementary School eating lunch on the first day of school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Maplesville High School greeted students back with balloons out front of the school. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Students going through the lunch line. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Over 8,000 Chilton County students made their way back to their respective schools on August 7 for the new school year. Some are starting their schooling journey, while others are continuing theirs and perhaps getting to the end of it.

Nonetheless, whether a kindergartener or high school senior, the start of a new school year is always exciting. It is also exciting for teachers, administration and parents as well. Chilton County Schools Superintendent Corey Clements is entering his second full school year in the position, this time with the largest enrollment the school system has ever had. There has been a 3% increase in enrollment within CCS since the 2022-2023 school year to have an enrollment of over 8,000 students entering this year. An enrollment that ranks CCS as the 22nd largest school system in the State of Alabama out of the 139 statewide.

CCS is also the largest employer in Chilton County with around 1,000 employees across the 15 campuses including LeCroy Career Technical Center and the PASS Academy.

“We are hoping that logistically everything goes well for the start of school,” Clements said. “Enrollment this year is going to be over 8,000 (students) … We will have to work through some growing pains, but we are hoping we have addressed everything over the summer, and if not get it fixed quickly.”

Smiling faces and a sense of optimism filled all of the hallways across the 15 educational campuses in Chilton County. Clements said the start of each school year is met with more apprehension for administration hoping everything goes well, but they are equally as excited to see the students back. A former teacher and coach himself at Thorsby High School, Clements is looking forward to having athletics, marching bands and other student activities ramp up again as well.

Other areas of improvement that were made prior to this school year that Clements is excited to see in action includes having a student resource officer at each campus for the first time, taking a huge leap in keeping CCS students safe. The school system will also be providing free breakfast and lunch for all students this school year.

“We are looking forward to building on what we have done from the last school year, and we hope everyone understands that we are focusing on academics now more than we ever had,” Clements said.

Clements asked that parents and students be patient with their respective schools at the beginning of the year as they work through kinks, do not rush to school in the morning and put the safety of everyone at the forefront of their early-year plans.

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