With the immense growth in the Washington region, particularly in the outlying suburbs, houses are being built far faster than schools. Many counties predict school populations will peak in the next decade, so they are reluctant to construct expensive school buildings and instead seek temporary solutions. Thousands of area students spend most of their day in trailers--and this year the number will grow again.
Critics complain that the act of having children trek to and from the main school building means learning time lost, colds caught in the rain and doors left unlocked and vulnerable to security threats. Then again, it's pretty peaceful in a trailer--no racket seeping in from the noisy science experiment in the next room, the space immediately warmed or cooled at the twitch of a thermostat--and trailers are often as big or bigger than regular classrooms.
Like it or not, portable classrooms are a reality, now and in the near future. Below, the number of classroom trailers to be used in each local jurisdiction this year.
ALEXANDRIA:
Elementary: 10
Total: 10
ARLINGTON COUNTY
Elementary: 104
Middle: 9
High: 2
Others: 12
Total: 127
CALVERT COUNTY
Elementary: 11
Middle: 7
High: 15
Other: 1
Total: 34
CHARLES COUNTY
Elementary: 63
Middle: 10
High: 36
Other: 1
Total: 110
FAIRFAX COUNTY
Elementary: 442
Middle: 108
High: 112
Total: 662
FALLS CHURCH:
Elementary: 2
Total: 2
FAUQUIER COUNTY:
Elementary: 6
Middle: 28
High: 2
Total: 36
HOWARD COUNTY
Elementary: 28
Middle: 6
High: 0
Total: 34
LOUDOUN COUNTY:
Elementary: 3
Middle: 2
High: 17
Total: 22
MANASSAS
Elementary: 16
Total: 16
MANASSAS PARK
Elementary: 15
Total: 15
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Elementary: 148
Middle: 61
High: 53
Others: 24
Total: 286
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
Elementary: 268
Middle: 44
High: 102
Special centers: 14
Total: 428
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
Elementary: 111
Middle: 19
High: 25
Others: 8
Total: 163
ST. MARY'S COUNTY:
Elementary: 27
Middle: 4
High: 13
Others: 27
Total: 71
STAFFORD COUNTY:
no trailers.
* Others includes alternative programs and schools and learning centers.
