Principal Andrew Hunter said the school had posted its highest roll in more than two decades.
The March roll return had grown from 303 pupils in 2001 to 487 this year, and the school was growing close to capacity.
"I think it's been caused by an increase in family-aged households in our area.
"A lot of parents are also moving toward putting their children in intermediate (years 7 and 8) education rather than putting them in colleges (years 7-13) such as Kaikorai Valley College, John McGlashan College, St Hilda's Collegiate and Columba College."
Mr Hunter said parent word-of-mouth had also driven the school's roll increase.
Nearly 30 pupils travelled to the school each day from Mosgiel.
Tahuna Intermediate is the only other intermediate school in Dunedin to have an enrolment scheme. It has been in place for several years.
Under Balmacewen Intermediate's enrolment scheme, pupils will be enrolled if they live within the "home zone", which incorporates Kaikorai, Wakari, Helensburgh, Halfway Bush, Belleknowes, Roslyn, Maori Hill and part of the Glenleith suburb.
Mr Hunter said while an enrolment scheme had become necessary for the school, he was disappointed the zone did not cover all suburbs which had traditionally supplied pupils to the school.
"Because the board of trustees and the Ministry of Education couldn't agree on the zone, the Secretary of Education designated the zone.
"We would have liked to have incorporated the Mornington and Balaclava suburbs as well. They are, traditionally, two of our strongest producers of pupils for our school.
"It's disappointing.This was not the board's choice."
Pupils living outside the zone would now be enrolled under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, he said.
This meant, each year, the board would determine the number of places likely to be available in the following year for the enrolment of pupils who live outside the home zone.
A notice would be sent indicating how applications were to be made, and would specify a date by which all applications must be received.
Enrolments for next year will close on September 3. Then, on September 18, the number of "out-of-zone" places available will be announced in the Otago Daily Times.
A ballot will then take place on October 1, with approval of enrolments from outside the zone notified on October 4.
Mr Hunter said the school would take a maximum of 240 enrolments for next year.
