RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake County Schools are overcrowded and that means more mobile classrooms are in the future for many students.

Parents spoke out about mobile education at the first of a series of community meetings held Tuesday night at Sanderson High School.

"It's concerning that we're not getting the funding for the long-term growth," parent Mike Brown said.

Growth and a lack of classroom space to accommodate it is forcing the school district to add three modular schools and 168 mobile classrooms. It is not a popular option for school officials or parents.

To glimpse into the future of education in Wake County, you may have to look no further than Fox Road Elementary. The school has mobile classrooms like everywhere else, but the school takes it a step further -- half of the cafeteria is modular.

"Growth is with us for the long term in Wake County," Assistant Superintendent Don Hayden said.

Where is all the growth coming from?

Students are moving from other counties, other states and even other countries. This year, More than 1,200 students moved from private schools into public schools and 429 students came back from charter schools. Even home-schooled students - 221 of them-- went back to public schools this year.

Hayden says despite the headache, growth is actually a good problem.

"Because it means Wake County is a good place to live," he said.

Among the parents suggestions are putting year-round schools back on the table for consideration instead of building more mobile classrooms.

They also recommended that developers should provide land and share the cost of building more schools.

On Wednesday, parents can speak out at Wakefield High and on Thursday at at Green Hope High. Both meetings start at 7 p.m.

More of

these meetings

will take place through November.