Recommended Boundary, Grade and Program Improvements › 2016 › 02 › school... ·...

Recommended Boundary, Grade and Program Improvements

January 21, 2016

Prince George’s County Board of Education

Segun C. Eubanks, Ed.D., Chair Carolyn M. Boston, Vice Chair, District 6

Zabrina Epps, M.P.M., District 1 Lupi Quinteros-Grady, District 2

Dinora A. Hernandez, Esq., District 3 Patricia Eubanks, District 4

Verjeana M. Jacobs, Esq., District 5 K. Alexander Wallace, District 7 Edward Burroughs III, District 8

Sonya Williams, District 9 Beverly Anderson, Ph.D. Curtis Valentine, M.P.P.

Ava Perry, Student Board Member Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D., Secretary Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer

1 The Promise of PGCPS

• Community Discussions

• Recommendations

• Next Steps

• Opportunities for Public Input

Overview

The Promise of PGCPS 2

Focal points for the Community Discussions included: • The Master Plan Support Project (MPSP) report • The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) • Efficient use of schools • Grade organization • Feeder patterns • Specific Study Areas:

¾Accokeek Area ¾Forestville Area (Skyline Elementary) ¾Adelphi / Beltsville Area (Buck Lodge Middle)

Community Discussions

The Promise of PGCPS 3


Accokeek Study Area • Accokeek Academy community expressed concern about overcrowding at the school.

Some suggested unifying the boundary to create at true K-8 academy. Many were in favor of maintaining the TAG program. Verification of student addresses as a means of reducing overcrowding was suggested. Continued residential development with the potential impact on enrollment was acknowledged.

• Ft. Washington Forest Elementary community expressed concern about the MPSP

recommendation to consolidate the school and suggested expanding the boundary to increase their enrollment; thereby reducing overcrowding at Accokeek Academy. Some suggested converting the school to a K-8 academy.

• Potomac Landing Elementary community expressed opposition to changing their middle feeder boundary from Accokeek Academy to Oxon Hill Middle. They strongly suggest leaving both elementary and middle boundaries in place or constructing a new middle school in the Accokeek / Fort Washington Area. Some suggested converting the school to a K-8 academy.

• In general, community members suggested expanding special programs so that they are available at all schools.




Forestville High Most community members indicated a preference for small schools and class sizes, and noted their benefits. Consolidation was not supported. Discontent was expressed with the District’s decision to reduce their attendance areas with the opening of Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High. Participants questioned the distribution of desirable programs among high schools. Concern was also expressed regarding possible increases in gang violence if students in the Forestville High attendance area were reassigned to Suitland High. Support for the continuation of the Military Academy was expressed. There is an online petition supporting the continued operation of Forestville High. Skyline Elementary Community members expressed concern regarding consolidation of the school. A question / concern was raised about the level of service that special education students would receive at their neighborhood schools. There were multiple comments regarding the vulnerability of this population to bullying which might occur at other schools. Members of the community expressed satisfaction with how integral the special education program is to the school. • Other schools and study areas were suggested as areas of concern by some participants for

future consideration.

Forestville Study Area


• Community members expressed concern regarding overcrowding at Buck Lodge Middle. Concern was raised regarding moving 6th grade to already crowed middle schools in the northern area of the county. Attendees suggested using available space at Martin L. King Jr. Middle by changing elementary feeder patterns and postponing the move of 6th grade until the new middle schools planned for the area are complete.

• Overall community members were in agreement that student enrollment in the north leaves

few viable options for relieving overcrowding until new construction is complete.

• Other schools and study areas were suggested as areas of concern by some participants for future consideration.


Adelphi / Beltsville Study Area

Grade Organization Recommendations

The Promise of PGCPS

For the following elementary schools, assign the 6th grade to the feeder middle school:

• Francis S. Key Elementary School (Drew-Freeman Middle School) • Longfields Elementary School (Drew-Freeman Middle School) • William Beanes Elementary School (Drew-Freeman Middle School)

• Ardmore Elementary School (Ernest E. Just Middle School) • Kingsford Elementary School (Ernest E. Just Middle School)

• Cora L. Rice Elementary School (G James Gholson Middle School) • Highland Park Elementary School (G James Gholson Middle School)

• Rose Valley Elementary School (Isaac Gourdine Middle School)

• Flintstone Elementary School (Oxon Hill Middle School) • Glassmanor Elementary School (Oxon Hill Middle School) • Oxon Hill Elementary School (Oxon Hill Middle School) • Valley View Elementary School (Oxon Hill & Thurgood Marshall Middle Schools)

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Buck Lodge Middle School • Current utilization is 117%; Projected utilization (fall 2019) is 158% • Site cannot accommodate more than the 8 existing temporaries. • Nearly all adjacent schools are over crowded. • Construction of a new middle will not be ready for several years.

Martin L. King Jr. Middle School has 191 open seats.

Buck Lodge Study Area Background

Improvement Plan (Part A)


Buck Lodge Study Area Recommendations

• Assign all of Calverton Elementary School to Martin L. King Jr. Middle School for grades 6-8.

Enrollment & Utilization Buck Lodge Middle Martin L. King Jr. Middle

Before After Before After SY2017 1,230 121% 1,137 112% 667 78% 760 89% SY2018 1,275 125% 1,089 107% 710 84% 896 105% SY2019 1,418 139% 1,119 110% 735 86% 1,034 122% SY2020 1,606 158% 1,307 129% 764 90% 1,063 125%


Accokeek Academy: • School is not a true K-8 • Utilization is 115% • New facility will have same capacity as existing buildings. • Residential growth is expected to continue.

Ft. Washington Forest Elementary School: • Utilization is 60% (preferred target is 80-95%) • Enrollment is 262 (preferred minimum is 411) • MPSP recommended consolidating the school

Gwynn Park Middle School has 150 open seats

Accokeek Study Area Background


Accokeek Academy: • Reassign areas east of Piscataway Creek (including “The Preserve” neighborhood) to Ft. Washington

Forest ES for grades PreK-5 and Gwynn Park Middle for grades 6-8. • Students currently attending Accokeek Academy will be grandfathered and may remain at the school.

Ft. Washington Forest Elementary School: • Expand boundary to include areas east of Piscataway Creek (including “The Preserve”

neighborhood). • Feed to Gwynn Park Middle and Gwynn Park High. • Students attending Accokeek Academy and Friendly High will be grandfathered and may remain at

those schools. • For the 2016-2017 school year, rising 6th graders who are TAG identified will be allowed to

participate in the TAG program at Accokeek Academy.

Potomac Landing Elementary School: • Change middle school assignment from Accokeek Academy to Gwynn Park Middle. • Change high school assignment from Friendly High to Gwynn Park High. • Students currently attending Accokeek Academy and Friendly High will be grandfathered and may

remain at those schools. • For the 2016-2017 school year, rising 6th graders who are TAG identified will be allowed to

participate in the TAG program at Accokeek Academy.

Accokeek Study Area Recommendations



Minor Boundary Changes Reassign the following streets from Ft. Washington Forest ES to Potomac Landing ES:

609-708 Bricker Drive Buckmaster Lane

Jeanie Court Peace Drive

Pine Tree Lane Valor Drive

Warburton Lane



Enrollment & Utilization Accokeek Academy Ft. Washington Forest Elem Gwynn Park Middle

Before After Before After Before After SY2017 1,375 109% 1,255 100% 215 46% 245 53% 545 71% 635 83% SY2018 1,387 110% 1,147 91% 210 45% 270 58% 547 72% 727 95% SY2019 1,387 110% 1,027 81% 201 43% 291 63% 556 73% 826 108% SY2020 1,404 111% 1,014 80% 200 43% 320 69% 562 73% 832 109%

Enrollment & Utilization Gwynn Park High Friendly High

Before After Before After SY2017 999 83% 1,084 90% 940 67% 855 61% SY2018 1,018 84% 1,188 98% 923 66% 753 53% SY2019 1,025 85% 1,270 105% 944 67% 699 50% SY2020 1,012 84% 1,332 110% 944 67% 624 44%


Forestville High School: • Utilization is 54% (preferred target is 80-95%) • Neighborhood student population has declined 40% over the last 10 years. • MPSP recommended consolidating the school.

Suitland High School:

• Utilization is 69% (preferred target is 80-95%) • CIP is requesting state funding for a full replacement of the facility. • Open seats in adjacent schools would limit state funding.

Skyline Elementary School:

• Enrollment is 206 (preferred minimum is 411) • The number of self-contained Special Education classes exceeds the number

of general education classes. • Neighborhood population can be accommodated in adjacent schools.

Forestville Study Area Background



Forestville Study Area Recommendations

Enrollment & Utilization Forestville High Suitland High

Before After Before After Enrollment 685 - 1,724 2,259 Utilization 54% - 66% 87% Open Seats 574 - 882 347

• Consolidate Forestville High School and reassign the neighborhood population to Suitland High School.

• Discontinue the Forestville Military Program and

accommodate interest through JROTC programs at neighborhood high schools.

• Special transfers will be available for non-neighborhood rising seniors attending Forestville High into Suitland High.



• Consolidate Skyline Elementary School and reassign the neighborhood population to William Beanes Elementary School for grades PreK-5.

• Assign the 6th grade from Skyline Elementary and William Beanes Elementary to Drew-Freeman Middle School.

• Reassign students in the Autism program, with appropriate supports, to their neighborhood schools.

Forestville Study Area Recommendations

Enrollment & Utilization Skyline Elementary William Beanes Elem Before After Before After

Enrollment 206 - 471 502 Utilization 90% - 81% 86% Open Seats 22 - 113 82

DATE ACTIVITY January 21 CEO introduces plan to Board of Education (First Reader) Late January Postal mail, flyers, robo calls to families affected by recommendations February 6* Newspaper Notification February 23 Public Hearing at Board of Education in Upper Marlboro February 25 Board of Education vote (Second Reader) March 4* Postal mail notification of approved changes

Next Steps


*Tentative date

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Opportunities for Public Input


Submit comments: via web: [email protected] by mail: Board of Education Office 14201 School Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Speak at the February 23, 2016 Public Hearing: Call 301-952-6115 at least 2.5 hours before the scheduled meeting. Participants may speak for 3 minutes. Questions? Email: [email protected] Call: 301-952-6300

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Recommended Boundary, Grade and Program Improvements › 2016 › 02 › school... ·...

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