CLARKSBURG, Md. — Maryland’s largest school system, Montgomery County Public Schools, opened for the first day of classes Monday by setting yet another record for enrollment.

More than 159,000 students are enrolled in the system, an increase of 2,569 over last year. It’s the eighth consecutive year that enrollment has grown by at least 2,000 students.

“I’m very excited about the new schools we’re opening,” said Montgomery County Superintendent Jack Smith.  “Hallie Wells is a brand new school and Farquhar Middle School is a replacement school,” he said.

Smith told WTOP that one goal, as the school system expands, is to close achievement gaps among the student population.

“We’re going to really redouble our efforts to make sure we’re helping every single student,” he said.