Despite Reduced Budgets, Many Students Will Return To New or Restored Facilities

School leaders are also launching programs aimed at lowering dropout rates and helping students who have trouble passing courses. They plan to use data to target individual students who need special attention and coaching.

In St. Mary's, 60 freshmen will attend the new Fairlead Freshman Academy, which was created to reduce the county's high dropout rate. The students will take only the core academic classes -- English, math, social studies and science -- in addition to having a daily mentoring session.

"The ultimate goal is for them to get five credits to continue on to sophomore year and keep them from dropping out that first year," said St. Mary's School Superintendent Michael J. Martirano.

Charles plans to increase its extracurricular offerings for students, add athletic trainers to work with athletes and develop a lacrosse program at its six high schools in the spring.

"The more kids you have in some type of uniform, the more they will feel accepted and succeed in school," Richmond said.

Following car accidents that killed students in Calvert and Charles last school year, the three school systems are launching or continuing teenage driving initiatives at their high schools. Students in the three counties who violate driving laws can lose their parking privilege at school.

Students at La Plata High will be greeted on the first day by the superintendent, the county sheriff and sheriff's officers, who will pass out fliers outlining driving laws, particularly as they pertain to drivers younger than 18.

"We have to make sure students can get to school safely," Richmond said. "So if you violate the rules, you lose your permit."