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School Planning

The Office of School Planning is responsible for projecting student enrollment, planning for infrastructure needs, developing school boundary studies and studying attendance area adjustments, and writing the school system’s annual feasibility study.

Boundary Review Process for the 2026–2027 School Year

On Feb. 13, 2025, the Board of Education directed that HCPSS initiate the boundary review process outlined in Policy 6010 School Attendance Areas to consider redistricting selected schools that are outside the capacity utilization range of 90-110%.

The boundary review process will include Bryant Woods, Running Brook, Swansfield, Longfellow, Clemens Crossing and Centennial Lane elementary schools. Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Burleigh Manor middle schools, as well as Centennial and Wilde Lake high schools also will be included to allow adjustments to feeds.

Changes in school attendance areas as a result of this process will take effect beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Enrollment Projections

Every year, the Office of School Planning produces an enrollment projection, compiling updated data including projected housing, construction, historical and projected births, housing resales and student population characteristics.

Learn more about the Enrollment Projection Methodology →

Get answers to frequently asked questions about school attendance areas 

Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP)

The Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) replaces the Feasibility Study and Projection Reports that were presented in prior years. The report includes an outline of local planning considerations, projection methodology and accuracy, 10 years of student enrollment projection data, capacity needs, facility need prioritization and additional elements that are required by the State.

Download the Educational Facilities Master Plan (PDF)

Previous Planning Documents: 2024 Feasibility Study | 2024 Enrollment Projection | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

Measuring Program Capacity

Utilizing our facilities to their fullest.

As defined by Policy 6010 – School Attendance Areas, Program Capacity is the number of students that can be reasonably accommodated in a school, based on the permanent school facility (relocatables are excluded) and the educational program offered.

Capacities can change over time based on system wide review/recalculation of capacities or individual school reviews due to specific needs (additions, renovations, or movement of regional programs). Some rooms are excluded from capacity calculations including Prekindergarten and Regional Special Education rooms.

Details are included in the most recent capacity studies.

Current School Assignments

School Locator

Use our online map application to locate your address within the county, find your planning polygon number, and view adopted attendance areas.

Capital Planning

The annual Capital Budget development and review process is supported by both county and state funding.

The school system considers construction projects carefully as each project goes through a myriad of stages from concept to completion. Parents and community members may follow each of our major construction projects as they move through the stages of the process.

View currently active and recently completed construction projects →

Students entering Bushey Park Elementary School

Contact Us

Office of School Planning
10910 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-313-1554; 410-313-6890 (F)

Email: SchoolPlanning@hcpss.org