Prince William County is slated to surpass Virginia Beach as the state’s second-largest school system when classes begin next month.
The suburban education district has grown more than 30 percent since 2000 in a climb to 72,000 students.
“That is going to bump us up to the second-largest school division in the state,” school spokeswoman Irene Cromer said. “We’re prepared for it.”
As the Northern Virginia suburbs have boomed, leading to more school construction and families settling beyond Fairfax County, some districts are experiencing less demand.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools once educated 78,000 students annually, but its enrollment has been declining gradually in recent years, with 70,000 expected in September, spokeswoman Sarah Aho said.
The school divisions exchanged data last month to gauge which jurisdiction would hold second-place honors far behind Fairfax County’s mark of 165,000 students.
“They’re ahead of us now,” Aho said.
