Capacity is, in the words of Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata, "the coin of the realm," now that a choice-based student assignment plan is in effect.

Since the new plan is supposed to avoid overcrowding schools, this means limiting how many students can be accepted. Wake will be using transitional capacities as it grandfathers in students for the next few years.

Click here for the 2011-12 Facilities Utilization Report approved by the school board this month that lists the capacity figures for all 165 schools.

In addition, Tata has directed all the principals to verify by grade level the number of classes and number of seats. This will be done before integrating the capacity figure into the assignment plan.

School capacity figures and enrollment projections are on the school board's agenda today.

Both issues will come up during the board's facilities committee meeting. They're a big deal because it's likely that they'll become an issue as the new board attempts to implement its policies.

Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney will discuss the 2009 facilities utilization report. The report lists the capacities and enrollments of each school.