RALEIGH — A new Wake County school proposal will move about 2,000 students to different schools. Officials say the reassignment is necessary to fill three new schools.

The plan was presented at the school board's work session Tuesday afternoon. A public hearing on the plan will be held February 20 at 7 p.m. at Sanderson High School.

Students who are high school seniors will not be moved, even if their schools are affected. But plenty of others will be reassigned.

Wake County Associate Superintendent Ray Massey says as population increases students must be moved around in order to keep a balance.

Olive Chapel Elementary will be filled with students transferring from Baucom, Davis Drive and Apex Magnet elementary schools. Apex High, which is virtually bursting at the seams, will send 264 students to Athens Drive, which in turn will move 125 students to the new Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and dozens more students to Broughton and Fuquay-Varina High.

Student Assignment Director Linda Batdorf says this sort of decision is not made lightly.

There are many other changes outlined in the document released Tuesday. Families who are affected will be notified by mail this week and can check on changes at their childrens' schools.