RALEIGH - Wake County's smallest student growth in six years will likely cost the state's largest school system at least $3 million and increases questions about the use of year-round schools and the next construction bond issue.

Figures released this week show that the Wake school system has 137,706 students this fall, 2,737 fewer students than had been projected. School leaders are blaming the nation's economic woes for causing enrollment to be at least 2,000 students fewer than expected for a second year in a row.

"We're still growing," said Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board.

Several other large school districts in the state also missed their projections. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system grew by 1,794 students fewer than expected.

Release of this year's official enrollment totals comes while Wake school leaders are considering reducing use of year-round schools.

In 2006, the school board agreed to open all new elementary and middle schools on a year-round calendar and to convert 22 schools to that schedule last year due to expected record growth. Year-round schools can handle more students by putting buildings in constant use.

School and county planners had anticipated Wake would grow by 6,000 to 8,000 students a year. This year, with a net gain of 3,704 students, is the first time since 2002 that enrollment has increased by less than 4,000 students.

Based on preliminary figures showing slower growth, school board members have talked about switching some of the 22 schools back to a traditional calendar. Board members expect to get a list of schools to consider on Tuesday.

"I would hope they'd do the responsible thing and unconvert some schools," said Kathleen Brennan, a co-founder of Wake CARES, a parent group that is suing the school district over year-round schools.

Although the effect on year-round schools is uncertain, the fiscal effect is clear.

In the county's annual budget released earlier this year, commissioners withheld $3 million to see whether the school system would reach the projected enrollment of 140,443 students.

Commissioners' chairman Joe Bryan said he thought it was unlikely the current commissioners would vote to grant the $3 million to the schools. It's also possible that Wake will lose a smaller amount of state money.

Gill said the school board will still ask for the $3 million. Despite the slowdown, Wake moved past the San Diego Unified School District to become the 18th-largest district in the nation.

"We're certainly looking for our commissioners to be more sympathetic of the needs of our school system," Gill said.

Bryan said the lower enrollment figures will be discussed at the next joint meeting of both boards, scheduled for Oct. 8. With fewer students, the commissioners may delay some projects and accelerate others.

The group will also likely talk about the detrimental effect the nation's credit crisis is having on Wake's ability to sell school construction bonds.

Bryan said he saw the slower-than-expected growth as providing new options, such as easing the system's reliance on mobile classrooms.

"I see it as an opportunity to catch up," Bryan said. "And, hopefully, this may prevent us from having to come to the public with another $1 billion school bond issue."

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