Public Officials Concerned About Inequitable Enrollment at Western PWC High Schools

Enrollment at western Prince William County high schools are inequitable, according to data provided by Prince William County Schools, and elected officials are starting to take notice. At the Board of County Supervisors meeting on May 1, Brentsville District Supervisor Wally Covington addressed the enrollment concerns, while considering how the current high schools could best serve an influx of students who would accompany a new development in his district. Covington noted that some high schools were under capacity, while other schools were beyond their capacity. “Brentsville is going to fall to 66 percent next year. We as a Board need more analysis and see that things get fixed. I know everyone wants to go to the new school, but letting Brentsville fall to 66 percent is just not acceptable to me,” Covington said. Covington’s figures match those that Bristow Beat received from the Prince William County School system. Based on this 2011-12 enrollment data, they demonstrate the inequity. Battlefield High School already has five trailers, and the data suggests that Patriot may experience overcrowding next year; however, Brentsville and Stonewall will both be under capacity. Enrollment numbers as provided by Prince William County Schools, based on projections off of 2011-12:

High Schools:	Brentsville	Patriot	Battlefield	Stonewall
Capacity:	1,110	2,053	2,053	2,409
2012-13:	742	2,335	2,538	2,393
Difference:	-368	+282	+485	-16
% of Capacity:	67%	114%	124%	99%

However, Brentsville School Board Representative Gil Trenum said the only redistricting they have done was to proactively address a new development in the Brentsville District, which has been approved by the Board of County Supervisors. “Projections are in a constant state of flux, based on a number of factors,” said Trenum. At the May 2, 2012 School Board meeting, Trenum requested more accurate school enrollment figures from school officials. “In regards to the student enrollment, projections are different from what I’m hearing out in the schools,” Trenum said. Traditionally, when a school is over-enrolled, students experience over-crowded classes and temporary trailers. Inequitable distribution of students often affects the employment of teachers as well. Because of shrinking enrollment, Brentsville District High School has destaffed 13 employees, including ten teachers. Despite the imbalance, Prince William County Schools Supervisor of Planning and Financial Services David Beavers said, "at he present time, there is not a plan to provide wide-scale redrawing of the high school boundaries."