Alcoa schools report enrollment, new staff and back-to-school plans

ALCOA, Tenn. — School leaders reported current enrollment figures and summer preparations at the Alcoa City Schools Board of Education meeting June 17.

Alcoa Elementary School principal Dr. Pendergraft told the board AES enrollment stands at 555 students and listed new AES staff members: Amanda Storie, Peyton Benfield, SieAnna Cameron, Ava Hurley, Kylie Corgan and Dara Smith (internal shift). Dr. Pendergraft also thanked AES custodians for preparing the building over the summer and noted a second annual second-grade swim week scheduled July 28–August 1, with a back-to-school pool party on Aug. 1.

Director of Schools Jake Jones provided district counts for other campuses: Alcoa Intermediate School (AIS) 518 students, Alcoa Middle School (AMS) 524 students and Alcoa High School (AHS) 728 students. The district calendar in the meeting materials lists Thursday, July 24 as the first full day for all students for the upcoming school year.

Why it matters: Enrollment numbers guide staffing, classroom assignments and bus routing; naming new hires and custodial preparation signals operational readiness for the upcoming year.

Details: The AES personnel list in the transcript identifies new hires and an internal shift; the board confirmed an additional third-grade position at AIS under the consent agenda. The meeting transcript records appreciation for custodial work but does not include financial details about hiring or payroll impact.

Looking ahead: The board materials note upcoming work sessions and board meetings in July and a 100‑year alumni celebration at AHS listed for July 26, 2026. The transcript does not provide additional operational details such as bus routes or class-size projections.