Johnston County school officials are moving ahead with construction plans for new schools throughout the county, despite signs the nationwide slowdown in the housing market is htting the Triangle.

“At this point we are still building schools as fast as we can,” said Crystal Roberts, spokeswoman for Johnston County Schools. “The county continues growing exponentially, in every region.”

School officials say enrollment has more than doubled in the past 18 years, from 14,000 in the early 1990’s to 31,000 in 2007. And even though voters approved $300 million worth of bonds since 1989, and the system has opened almost two new schools every year since then, 75 percent of Johnston’s schools are filled to capacity.School officials admit the irony, a little slower growth will allow the building program to catch up with growth.

“As soon as we passed the latest bond issue, we broke ground on the next school in the plan 10 days later,” Roberts said, pointing the construction schedule. Two elementary schools open this fall and two high schools are scheduled to open in 2010. “We don’t let grass grow under our feet once we get the money.”

And it turns out the school system isn’t just relying on bricks and mortar to keep up with growth. This fall, the system opens an early college program at Johnston Community College. The five year program will enroll 250 students. Participants can earn a high school diploma and a two year associates degree.

“We want to engage all of the students in the education process and give them a way to stay involved in high school education and education beyond high school,” said Deborah Woodruff , the executive director of academic and innovative programs with Johnston County Schools.

The program is geared to a college preparatory curriculum. It’s for students who are focused on academics and don’t want all of the social and athletic aspects of high school but don’t see opportunities for college. “Our slogan is expanding your choices,” said Woodruff. “We want as many students as possible to have choices.” And officials are confident, with more construction and more innovative programs, those students will have seats as well.