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School officials say enrollment is rising in some Washington area schools.

Monday is the first day of school for students in the District and Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties. Catholic Elementary Schools throughout the Washington Archdiocese also begins classes Monday

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray will be visit schools in all four quadrants of the district, starting at Oyster-Adams Elementary School at 8:30 Monday morning. He'll visit four traditional public schools and two charter schools.

The district has more than 45,000 students in its public school system, while another 31,000 attend charter schools.

Chancellor Kaya Henderson calls the first day of school "the most exciting and most important day of the year." She also says some renovated schools have seen increases in enrollment, but final numbers won't be ready for a few weeks.

Joshua Starr, superintendent for Montgomery County schools, talked to ABC7's John Gonzalez Monday about what's to come this school year. 

Fairfax County schools superintendent, Jack Dale, told WTOP that there are about 15,000 more students in the county's public schools now than there were five years ago. And in Montgomery County, Superintendent Joshua Starr says school enrollment has grown by about 2,500 students per year.