Cobb County students headed back to school today, and more showed up than expected.

Georgia’s second largest school system faced few problems the first day but enrollment could turn out to be a challenge, said Jay Dillon, director of communications.

“Visual and anecdotal evidence suggests that enrollment may be much higher than anticipated,” he said. The district expected about 111,000 students, but Dillon said enrollment numbers are already looking higher.

More precise numbers will be available tomorrow, when Cobb has its first head count.

Dillon said it’s normal for enrollment numbers to grow the first two to three weeks of school. “We will find space for (the students) and hire more teachers as needed,” said Dillon.

Middle schoolers and high schoolers often have trouble finding classes on the first day, so administrators were on hand to help lost students.

“Usually on the first day buses tend to run a good bit behind their normal schedule, but today most buses were pretty much on time,” Dillon said in an email.

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