Yellowknife (Oct 31/03) - The number of students pouring into the city's two high schools continues to rise and enrollment is reaching the saturation point.

Sir John Franklin is operating at 98 per cent capacity, with 735 full-time students this year.

Principal Mieke Cameron says that number inches closer to 760 if you factor in part time and alternative program students.

The school has 295 students in Grade 10 alone.

Over at St. Patrick high school, Yellowknife Catholic schools seem to be crunched even tighter.

Principal John Bowden puts the number of full-time students at 531, which means the school is well over its 500 person capacity.

St. Pats is coping by using meeting rooms as classrooms, while Sir John administrators have increased class sizes, and teachers are sharing work spaces.

Larry Purcka, Yellowknife Catholic School board chair says the district is discussing a new school with the education department.

"I think we're making some headway with ECE as to some sites," says Purcka.

Purcka is not picky about what kind of school they get, whether it be a high school, middle school, or a French immersion school.

"We have no space," he says. "We need a new school."

Purcka said the district approached the education department last year about the issue, and hopes to have a school within two years.

Public school board chair Roy Desjarlais said Yellowknife's population growth trend dictates the addition of a school.

He says Yellowknife 1 district examined the issue last year and discussed it with the education department then.

"We're on it, We're thinking about it," said Desjarlais, but the territorial government will make the final decision.

Education department spokesperson Sue Glowach couldn't say if Yellowknife will get a new school.

The department compiles its own enrollment numbers for the territories' schools and those won't be available until December, said Glowach. A new school is "an ongoing discussion," she added.