Alexandria Redistricting Process Starting

[Anonymous]

This just out from the ACPS School Board:

The Alexandria City School Board announced on Thursday that it was starting the work of redistricting elementary schools across the city, in an effort to reduce overcrowding and strengthen the sense of neighborhood schools.

In shifting the boundary zones for schools for the start of the 2016-2017 school year, the School Board intends to balance enrollment needs across the entire division and create suitable learning environments in each school. Crowded conditions are proven to have a direct impact on the delivery of instruction and the use of core spaces, like cafeterias and libraries.

“Redistricting doesn't add more space to solve our city-wide capacity issue, but it will balance zones to match our growth. Most importantly, it will benefit the hundreds of families who are currently displaced from attending their neighborhood schools,” said School Board vice-chair Chris Lewis.

The last time Alexandria City Public Schools changed school boundaries was in 1999. Since then, ACPS enrollment has grown by more than 3,200 students. Student enrollment is projected to rise by four percent every year for the next five years.

Considerable numbers of students are currently transferred out of their neighborhood school and bussed to another school because of a lack of space. There are currently 247 students zoned for Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School and 152 students zoned for William Ramsay Elementary School who attend other schools in ACPS across the city. The majority of these are bussed to other schools because of lack of space. This can contribute to a sense of alienation and break down the feeling of a school being at the heart of a community.

“When we add new schools or additional classrooms or notice an imbalance in enrollment, we need to look at boundary modifications to make sure our schools are serving our instructional needs. Crowded schools are not good learning environments and we want to ensure every child has the environment they need to succeed,” said Superintendent Alvin L. Crawley.

Any boundary modification will take into account the Long Range Educational Facilities Plan findings, drawn up jointly by ACPS and the City. It will also include a review of existing policies such as Modified Open Enrollment, Regulations Governing ACPS Pupil Placement, School Attendance Areas and Admission of Homeless Children and take into account information regarding elementary enrollment transfers.

“The long range planning work, along with a thorough School Board policy review, sets in place the process for future building and capacity decisions over the next 20 years. Our West End and secondary capacity projects are needed now to address capacity issues. We need to find the funding as a city,” said School Board Chair Karen Graf.

In April, the School Board and ACPS staff will finalize the framework for redistricting that includes the timeline and the process. There will then be extensive public consultation in the form of student and community engagement, public hearings and multiple discussions at School Board meetings. The final proposal is likely to go before the School Board in February 2016.

The changed district lines would ideally come into effect for the start of the 2016-2017 school year. Parents and students will have an opportunity to visit their school, meet with the principal and staff and participate in scheduled open houses and school events in spring 2016.

ACPS and the School Board aim to ensure that the process surrounding the change of school boundaries, the timeline, activities and decision-making throughout the process is clear and transparent.

[Anonymous]

I think it's interesting that they are doing this now. Folks have been saying for years this needed to get done. Now they timing is such that they are starting the process now, but will be voting on it in February. That means that the process will be begun under one school board, but completed under the School Board that will be elected in November.
That makes redistricting THE #1 going into elections. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing...

[Anonymous]

Hmm. Do you know whether the redistricting will be for students new to ACPS, or whether it is anticipated that currently enrolled students would have to change schools? My son will be in 3rd grade when the redistricting is anticipated to come into effect, that seems like it would be a tough time to change schools.

[Anonymous]

I am utterly convinced my area (the neighborhood behind the masonic temple and parts of rosemont closer to the king st metro) will be moved over to JH. It's so close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. Do you know whether the redistricting will be for students new to ACPS, or whether it is anticipated that currently enrolled students would have to change schools? My son will be in 3rd grade when the redistricting is anticipated to come into effect, that seems like it would be a tough time to change schools.

This is probably question #1 on the minds of most people (as well it should be). I'm sure if you asked right now, I think they would probably say, "that is one of the factors we will have to explore"

Ultimately, I suspect though that they would just have to go ahead and move everyone. The logistics of school buses kids on the same street being bused to multiple schools would just get too complicated.
At least your son would be moving with all of his friends. I think it's possible they might also consider transferring some teachers as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am utterly convinced my area (the neighborhood behind the masonic temple and parts of rosemont closer to the king st metro) will be moved over to JH. It's so close.

Are you guys MacArthur now? or Maury. I don't know if you mean the area west of King or between Commonwealth and Braddock. I've heard rumors the plan is to zone Potomac Yard developments for Cora Kelly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am utterly convinced my area (the neighborhood behind the masonic temple and parts of rosemont closer to the king st metro) will be moved over to JH. It's so close.

I think you are probably right, but if your entire neighborhood was zoned for J-H, I think that would be okay, yes? This issues right now at J-H are in large part due to the very lopsided demographics, so changing the boundaries could make the new J-H more like some other successful Alexandria elementary schools--diverse, Title I, but still successful.
As a bonus, you and your neighbors get the shiny new school building!

What do you think? I'm a West-Ender, so I freely admit I'm not as in-the-know on this as you might be.

[Anonymous]

This seems to be driven by issues with Tucker and Ramsey. They both have to reject hundreds of in-boundary students every year because of capacity. Which results in lots of extra busing and kids not going to school in their neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am utterly convinced my area (the neighborhood behind the masonic temple and parts of rosemont closer to the king st metro) will be moved over to JH. It's so close.

I think you are probably right, but if your entire neighborhood was zoned for J-H, I think that would be okay, yes? This issues right now at J-H are in large part due to the very lopsided demographics, so changing the boundaries could make the new J-H more like some other successful Alexandria elementary schools--diverse, Title I, but still successful.
As a bonus, you and your neighbors get the shiny new school building!

What do you think? I'm a West-Ender, so I freely admit I'm not as in-the-know on this as you might be.

The current JH neighborhood is majority white and upper-middle class. If all of the rising Kindergartners when to JH instead of moving / transferring/ going private, the demographics would not be lopsided at all (probably 40% FARMS instead of 75%.)

[Anonymous]

To be honest, although I'm a little worried about redristicting (a little because my kids are almost out of elementary), I'm pleasantly surprised because it seems like a well thought out plan. Unusual and an improvement for ACPS. Its not like, we're going to do this, and its going to happen.. now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am utterly convinced my area (the neighborhood behind the masonic temple and parts of rosemont closer to the king st metro) will be moved over to JH. It's so close.

I think you are probably right, but if your entire neighborhood was zoned for J-H, I think that would be okay, yes? This issues right now at J-H are in large part due to the very lopsided demographics, so changing the boundaries could make the new J-H more like some other successful Alexandria elementary schools--diverse, Title I, but still successful.
As a bonus, you and your neighbors get the shiny new school building!

What do you think? I'm a West-Ender, so I freely admit I'm not as in-the-know on this as you might be.

The current JH neighborhood is majority white and upper-middle class. If all of the rising Kindergartners when to JH instead of moving / transferring/ going private, the demographics would not be lopsided at all (probably 40% FARMS instead of 75%.)

Yes, PP is correct. We moved because we were not comfortable sending our DC to J-H.

[Anonymous]

Op, can you share the source for the quote you posted? I'd like to share with some friends at our ACPS school.

[Anonymous]

At least your son would be moving with all of his friends. I think it's possible they might also consider transferring some teachers as well.

That's possibly true, but I guess it depends on how they redraw the boundaries. It just seems like it is going to be hard for kids to have to make a change in an "untraditional" change/entry year. If my younger daughter has to start at a different school in K (which will not be for a year after the redistricting is supposed to occur), I'd feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but source: http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2015/nr2015031202.php

[Anonymous]

There's been no determination about whether or not kids will get to stay in their current schools. I'm guessing that will be part of the conversations with the community.