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.