It's the beginning of a new era for Manchester Valley High School.
The school opened in 2009, joining North Carroll as the second public high school in Hampstead, Md. When Manchester Valley opened its doors, it meant kids from Hampstead would either attend Manchester Valley or North Carroll. Before Manchester Valley existed, every kid in Hampstead attended North Carroll.
This fall, there will be an influx of new students walking the hallways at Manchester Valley, after the Carroll County School Board decided to close North Carroll at the end of the 2015-16 academic year. With the two campuses four miles apart, most of the students who would have gone to North Carroll will now attend Manchester Valley.
It's created a unique situation for the school's athletic program. Both schools were heavy hitters at the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association 1A level. This past year, North Carroll won a state title in boys' soccer, while Manchester Valley won its third straight championship for girls' lacrosse. Now with the two groups joining, Manchester Valley could be in for a special year as it competes at the 3A level.
