Administrative staff members for Gloucester County Public Schools reported a smooth opening to the 2015-2016 session Tuesday, but county school board members expressed their concerns about teacher/student ratios already being too high in some elementary classrooms.

The eight county schools welcomed 5,218 students on day one, division superintendent Walter Clemons told the school board during its meeting Tuesday night at the Walker Education Center. The division budgeted for 5,316 students and Clemons said it is likely to exceed that number within the next two weeks.

Clemons said last year the division gained about 200 students between the first day of school and day 10. He expects the same scenario this fall, which could put the division in a better financial situation with added state dollars to support the increase.

Looking at individual classroom enrollments at elementary schools, Botetourt has 25 children in one first grade class, Abingdon has 24 in a fourth grade class and Achi...