A population boom at Old Rochester Regional High School may mean fewer school choice students come September, and a need for more staff in the future.

“We’ve been historically treading around the 700 figure,” said Principal Mike Devoll. “Next year we’ll be somewhere between 730 and 750. I happen to think it’s a good thing. We’re winning a lot of the recruiting battles with the private schools.”

Through the state's school choice program, the high school accepted 15 students in 2011 and 13 in 2012 by lottery. Each school choice student also brings in $5,000 in tuition.

But with 190 students expected in next year’s freshmen class, including seven school choice students already enrolled in the eighth grade, Devoll said he recommends opening only a few slots for school choice at the High School.

Although overall class size remains manageable, Devoll said some courses have reached their capacity, especially in the math and English departments.

Even so, Devoll said, “I don’t think I can fund a full-time English teacher.” If possible, he said he would consider adding a part-time teacher, and if numbers remain high, next year he might ask for more full-time teachers.

With the addition of the lacrosse and swim teams, along with other programs at the school, in-district students seems more keen to stay at ORR, and the demand for school choice remains high at both the junior and senior high.

Junior high Principal Kevin Brogioli said the plan is to open 12 school choice slots for the incoming seventh grade class, and he has received 15 applications already.

“I’m sure before we get to the June cut off date, we’ll have several more,” said Superintendent Doug White of both the junior high and high schools. “We probably receive from 4 to 10 phone calls a day on school choice.”

The School Committee will not make a final decision on school choice numbers for a few months, but Devoll said, “If you told me 10 more kids meant I could hire another math teacher, then let’s do it.”