The four elementary schools serving Towson’s core are now 662 students over their mandated capacity, according to data presented at a Baltimore County school board meeting last night.

Rodgers Forge Elementary continues to be the most overcrowded school in Baltimore County, at 181.31% capacity. There are now 718 students enrolled there, in a school rated for 396. That’s an extra 322 students.

Hampton Elementary is the second most overcrowded school in the county, at 145.28% capacity. The number of students there totals 446 — an additional  139 students more than the 307 allowed.

Stoneleigh Elementary is the fourth most overcrowded school in the county, at 124.45% capacity and a total of 621 students. That’s extra 122 in a building rated for 499.

Towson’s other elementary school — Riderwood — is operating at 117.06% capacity. The total there is 542 students — 79 over the building-rated 463.

According to school system data, Sparks Elementary school is the third most overcrowded in the county, and nearby Lutherville Lab — a magnet program that gives preference to students who live close to the school — comes in fifth.

This means that the top five overcrowded schools in the county are in the school system’s central district, an area clearly overlooked by school system officials charged with planning for future needs.

Part of the solution to Towson’s problem opens next year. The new West Towson Elementary, on Charles Street, is expected to alleviate about half of the projected over-enrollment.  Additions are also being planned for Stoneleigh and Hampton; these are at least three years away from opening.

Read a related Baltimore Sun story here.