The size of Remarkables Primary School's roll has caught the Ministry of Education by surprise.
With the school unable to meet the demand for places, new zoning rules will begin on Monday.
In 2010, the ministry cut the tape on the primary school as a "staged opening school", meaning it anticipated another primary school would be built before the school reached its enrolment limit.
However, the school roll has quickly grown to 436 children, which has meant introduction of a "cut-off" zone.
The new "home zone" includes properties from the Shotover River to the west along the south side of the Frankton/Ladies Mile highway (SH6) to Kawarau Rd as well as all roads south.
This means homes at Lake Hayes Estate and Quail Rise are excluded and children who are not enrolled by 4pm on Monday cannot attend.
Board of trustees spokeswoman Fiona Woodham said the growth in numbers had caught everyone by surprise and they were now waiting to hear from the ministry what the next step would be.
"We recognised growth a year ago and lodged to the ministry. We knew we had more to come. We knew we were going to be squeezed for space by the end of 2012 and the start of 2013."
Mrs Woodham said there were three options for the school - more classrooms, a satellite campus across the road, or a new school built at a location of the ministry's choosing.
"Either we need additional classrooms or a second primary school became the clear provision . . . a second primary was nowhere to be seen and that's still the case."
In February, Ministry of Education representative Brian Tegg attended a board meeting and the school expected to hear back from him within the next six weeks on its future.
"All options the ministry is looking at.
"A new school won't be done in any shape or form in time to cater for our current growth."
She said the school had "raised the red flag" more than a year ago about the fact the classrooms were getting full and factors such as Christchurch families seeking refuge in Queenstown had added to the school's enrolment woes.
"It's tricky to predict what this new zoning system means for the school.
"We appreciate it is a hard one to predict."
The issue for parents in the area now is who falls under the zoning band-aid.
Those residents outside the physical zone can enrol a sibling of a child already attending in years to come - so long as they remain at the same address.
So while those who choose to move before their child is enrolled are more or less out of luck to attend the school, any child who has turned 5 over the school holidays and any child registered by 4pm on Monday is in.
A set number of places for pupils outside of the zone will be held for siblings of current pupils, siblings of former pupils and children of board members.
Those still within the zone run from McBride St, Yewlett Cres and all roads leading off them as well as roads to the south of Frankton Rd.
Also included is Remarkables Park, Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point, Lakeside Estate, south to Wye Creek and all areas in between.
The school has 12 pre-enrolled pupils starting on Monday.
