School In Northern California To Stay Open With 9 Students

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) -- A tiny, one-room elementary school in Sonoma County will remain open as it has increased its enrollment by 50 percent to nine students.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that the Union School in Petaluma was at risk of closing because, with only six students, the school's average daily attendance was below the average the state requires. The required average is six students.

The 120-year-old school recruited heavily in hopes of finding just one more student so a sick day wouldn't close their doors. Union School's principal and only teacher Cynthia Walsh says so many families applied to join the classroom she had to close enrollment so the school wouldn't exceed capacity.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.