Because the district-wide attendance zone map was amended again last school year, students living in a part of the Lake Ridge High School zone are now attending Timberview.

“I was sorry to see them leave when the attendance zones were changed several years ago,” Principal Derrell Douglas said. “I’m glad that some of them are coming back.”

Though upperclassmen had a choice in which school to attend this year, this is the biggest freshman class in three years.

“This year, students were given the option to go ahead and start (here) if they like to,” Douglas said. “Next year (it) is more of a requirement.”

The zoning map predicted growth over the next decade.

“Over the next few years, I expect to see our enrollment grow and (students) fill up our building again,” Douglas said.

The middle school students that planned to go to Lake Ridge this year were moved to Timberview.

“It’s actually better,” freshmen Briana Lindsey said. “I wanted to go to (here).”

This year student enrollment totals 1,838, which includes some students who transferred to Lake Ridge and decided to return.

“It’s good to see some of them back,” senior Sabriyyah Khawaja said. “I’m sure some of them missed seeing their old friends and teachers.”

Lindsey, who went to Danny Jones during eighth grade, she said she recognizes some students.

“I wasn’t that upset because I went to Icenhower, so I (still) knew people from there,” she said.

The future increase in enrollment will affect class sizes.

“Whether you are talking about an academic class, elective or extracurricular activity, it just gives us more students to participate in those,” said Douglas, “Some of our classes that sometimes tend to be small might have more opportunity to make or get to actually have the class.”

Khawaja said there are positives and negatives to having a large student body.

“Overcrowding (and) locker shortage will probably be an issue that may need to be worked out,” she said. “At the same time, anyone can share a voice and have plenty of followers.”