Proposed Attendance Zone Adjustment Between Deep Creek High School and Grassfield High School

1
Proposed Attendance Zone Adjustment Between Deep
Creek High School and Grassfield High School

• School Board Meeting
• August 31, 2009

2
Report Purpose

• Present a plan to draw new attendance zones for
  Deep Creek High School and Grassfield High School
  that will increase enrollment at Deep Creek High
  School

3
Rationale

• Low enrollment has impacted instruction,
  athletics extracurricular programs
• A zone adjustment is the most practical timely
  method to increase enrollment at DCHS
• To minimize the number of existing households
  affected, one option is being presented

4
Background InformationEnrollment Ethnicity
Note Enrollment as of April 7, 2009.
5
Background InformationAttendance Zone History

• May 2005 - Board approved attendance zones for
  the GFHS, DCHS, GBHS HHS
• Sept. 2007 Approved attendance zones
  implemented at GFHS, DCHS, GBHS HHS

6
Background InformationAffect of Attendance Zone
Change

• DCHS experienced the greatest reduction in
  enrollment of the impacted high schools
• DCHS has the smallest enrollment compared to
  other high schools within city

7
Background InformationFactors Contributing to
Lower Enrollment
For many years several options in CIP to relieve
overcrowding at WBHS Construct additional high
school between DCHS WBHS Adjust attendance
zones between DCHS WBHS Construct an addition
to WBHS

• Results of the citys comprehensive plan update
  determined an additional high school between WBHS
  DCHS was unnecessary
• With community input, it was determined that
  adjusting attendance zones between DCHS WBHS
  was no longer an option

8
Background InformationFactors Contributing to
Lower Enrollment
For many years several options in CIP to relieve
overcrowding at WBHS Construct additional high
school between DCHS WBHS Adjust attendance
zones between DCHS WBHS Construct an addition
to WBHS
Construct an addition to WBHS

• Remaining available option to relieve
  overcrowding at WBHS was to construct an addition
• Analysis of site availability of funding from
  Council lead to an addition at WBHS increasing
  capacity to 2400
• For the immediate future, significant capacity is
  not required at DCHS to provide space/relief to
  WBHS

9
Background InformationFactors Contributing to
Lower Enrollment

• Economic downturn has significantly impacted
  residential construction
• Enrollment changes will predominantly be
  demographic changes
• In this area, minimal high school enrollment
  growth expected over the next ten-year period

Citywide New Homes
DC/HO MSPA New Homes
2007 1,137
2007 188
-38.3
-36.2
2008 701
2008 120
10
Justification for Zone AdjustmentImpact on
Instruction

• Not enough students to fill selected classes,
  results in reduced course offerings and
  flexibility in choice
• Ex. One section of Orchestra and AP English
  offered the same block, requiring students to
  pick one
• Low enrollment results in fewer students to
  participate in co-curricula programs such as
  debate, literary magazine, yearbook, etc.
• This is a non issue at high schools with larger
  enrollments

11
Justification for Zone Adjustment Impact on
Instruction

• Enrollment in music programs has decreased,
  making it difficult to operate and compete
  effectively in state and national competitions
• Field trip costs per student have increased since
  costs are borne by fewer students

12
Justification for Zone AdjustmentImpact on
Athletic Program

• Smaller pool of participants results in
  disadvantage against other area schools and could
  impact DCHS VHSL AAA status
• Overall athletic participation reduced

13
Justification for Zone Adjustment Impact on
Extra Curricular Program

• Number of performances have been reduced
• Past students and parent volunteers are needed to
  fill roles

14
Description of Proposed Zones

• DCHS Expand southeast to the DC Locks
• Includes, but is not limited to the communities
  of Olde Mill Run, Elmwood Landing, Mill Creek,
  Culpepper Landing
• GFHS West of DC Locks would be realigned with
  DCHS
• Includes, but is not limited to the communities
  of Olde Mill Run, Elmwood Landing, Mill Creek
  Culpepper Landing

15
Map 1 Current Attendance Zones Close-up DCHS
GFHS Boundary
DCHS
GFHS
16
Map 2 Proposed Zones Close-up of DCHS GFHS
Boundary
DCHS
Dashed line indicates the area shifted from GFHS
to DCHS
GFHS
17
Recommendation

• Adopt the proposed boundaries as the new
  attendance zones for Deep Creek High School and
  Grassfield High School

18
Proposed Zone Adjustment Enrollment Impact
Includes 5 students currently enrolled in the IB
program at OSHS or the Technology Academy at GFHS.
Note Enrollment as of April 7, 2009.
19
Proposed Zone Adjustment Ethnicity Impact
Note Enrollment as of April 7, 2009.
20
Implementation Plan

• New attendance zones effective for DCHS and GFHS
  in Sept. 2010 (2010-11 SY)
• Rising seniors would have the option of remaining
  at their current school (GFHS) or they could
  attend their newly assigned school (DCHS)
• School bus transportation would be provided for
  the rising seniors at GFHS for the 2010-11 school
  year

21
Proposed Calendar

• Aug. 31st Initial presentation to Board
• Sept. 15th-24th Community meeting
• Sept. 28th 1st Public hearing work session
• Oct. 12th 2nd Public hearing work session
• Oct. 26th Requesting Final Action
• Sept. 2010 New Zones Become Effective