Principal Andrew Retallick said Woodend School will be at "breaking point" by term three next year if something is not done soon.
"In my experience anything with the Ministry of Education from planning to completion takes at least 12 months.
"I have conveyed to the ministry: ‘What are we supposed to do? Will I be teaching my students on the grass or will we be cramming them into our classrooms.'"
The Ministry of Education has already refurbished two old classrooms, but the roll is expected to reach its capacity of 490 in term four, and pass 600 students over the next five to 10 years.
It comes on the back of the booming nearby Ravenswood sub-division.
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Schools around the country are feeling the pressure after the Ministry of Education announced a review of building projects.
Swannanoa School principal Brian Price said the Ministry of Education spent $70,000 last year designing an extension to an existing classroom block to cater for roll growth, with the roll expected to pass 300 for the first time this year.
"It is not ideal and we will need to rethink how we run our school, but we don’t have any spare space," Price said.
The schools are among five North Canterbury projects on the Ministry of Education’s list of 352 building projects under review.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced an inquiry in February, which immediately put the brakes on the projects.
At the time, Stanford said the scope of the building works was "unrealistic and unaffordable".
Woodend School board of trustees chairperson Mark Paterson said their options are limited by the size of the site.
"The ministry has already said they wouldn’t go above 650 because of the site, so we need to be starting to think about what happens when we get to 650.
"Do we need to take over council land, or does the ministry need to look at building another school?’’
New classrooms have been in the pipeline at Te Kura o Tuahiwi for several years due to roll growth.
Principal Dot Singh said the build had been expected to begin in December, but was delayed and is now on hold.
"We are the only kura in North Canterbury to meet the needs of whānau who want immersion and bilingual education.’’
Kaiapoi North School principal Jason Miles said his school will need at least one new classroom next year to cater for roll growth.
"We don’t want schools being in the situation of teaching in libraries, halls, staffrooms or any space they can find."
Amuri Area School principal Matt Barlow said the school is managing its roll growth for now, but "continued growth will add pressure".
"We are continuing to plan based on our current designs and to look for ways to save money on the overall budget."
The high school was redeveloped in 2018 with a capacity of 1100 and has a master plan for future growth to 1800 students.
The roll passed 1050 pupils this year, but principal Jason Reid said he has received no indication when the next classroom block will be built.
Te Tai Runga (south) Hautū (leader) Nancy Bell said the Ministry of Education would continue to deliver roll growth teaching spaces at Woodend School "as required".
She said there were no building projects planned at Kaiapoi High School.
"Roll growth would only be considered when there are increased numbers of in-zone students.
"We continue to work directly with school communities because population trends are dynamic and subject to change over time."
Mr Price said when "Tomorrow’s Schools" was introduced in 1989, boards of trustees were given more control over building projects, instead of bringing in consultants.
"The school raised half of the money and the Ministry put up the other 50 per cent. We stretched every dollar and the community got in behind us."
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
