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HCPSS / NEWS

Board of Education Receives Update on School Capacity

June 23rd, 2016

Redistricting Planning Process Begins in May 2017 for 2018–2019 School Year

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is planning for the next phase of redistricting to begin in May 2017, in preparation for a new school opening in August 2018. The projected attendance area adjustment, described in the school system’s 2016 Feasibility Study, was presented during the June 23, 2016, meeting of the Howard County Board of Education and is available online.

The study is revised annually to update school enrollment projections and recommend additions and adjustments to the school system’s annual Capital Improvement Plan and Long Range Master Plan, which projects expected new construction and major renovation needs over the next 10 years. Each annual study identifies any redistricting that will be necessary in order to open a new school, relieve overcrowding, fill expanded capacity following school renovations and additions, or to bring projected enrollment at existing schools into alignment with HCPSS school attendance area policy.

The next scheduled redistricting will go into effect at the beginning of the 2018–2019 school year, in order to accommodate the August 2018 opening of the as-yet unnamed new Elementary School #42, located adjacent to Thomas Viaduct Middle School in Elkridge and with an expected enrollment of 700 students. Some middle school redistricting also will be necessary at that time in order to align feeder patterns from the new school into middle school.

The redistricting planning process will begin in May 2017 with the appointment of an Attendance Area Committee, which will include a cross-section of school system stakeholders including parents, HCPSS staff and community representatives. The committee will meet during summer 2017 to review the redistricting needs and consider alternative options.

In weighing the various options, the committee will consider the number and locations of families and neighborhoods potentially affected, student demographic profiles and other factors. One or more redistricting plans will be drafted and presented to the public at regional meetings during September 2017.

A final proposal will be presented to the Board of Education in October 2017, with a Public Hearing and Board action scheduled for the following month. The revised attendance areas will go into effect at the start of the new school year in August 2018.

The 2016 Feasibility Study and full details about HCPSS attendance area and redistricting processes are available online at http://www.hcpss.org/school-planning/.