Prince William County Schools released their new boundary plan for the 12th high school created in cooperation with the United States Department of Justice (D.O.J.) Monday.
Should the School Board decide to implement the new Alternative Boundary Plan, the D.O.J. has indicated to PWCS that their agency would not object nor would they pursue legal action.
D.O.J. Input
The previous boundary plan was called into question by the Civil Rights Division of the D.O.J. for failing to provide similar demographic diversity as seen in neighboring schools. The D.O.J. also felt the boundary map carved out “island” neighborhoods excluded from the new boundaries.
However, this new plan, entitled the "Alternative Boundary Plan," satisfies the D.O.J. by creating a more racially diverse student body and providing a more equitable distribution of economically disadvantaged and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students throughout mid-county schools.
According to Supervisor of Planning Dr. Matthew Cartlidge, the Alternative Boundary Plan takes into consideration guidance from the D.O.J. as well as community input.
“ were given all emails that were sent to staff regarding the 12th high school. As we were collaborating with them, we continued to provide feedback about the history of neighborhood assignments,” Cartlidge said.
Differences Between the Plans
Cartlidge listed what he believed to be key differences between the Alternative Boundary Plan and the last recent revision, Administrative Recommendation Version 1.2.
• The neighborhoods north of Prince William Parkway (State Route 294), which are currently assigned to Benton Middle School, will remain assigned to Osbourn Park High School, rather than being reassigned to the 12th high school. These include the Bacon Race, Cannon Bluff, River Falls, Coventry Glen, and Reids Prospect areas.• The neighborhoods of Ridgefield Village, Prince William Town Center and Queensdale, which are currently assigned to Osbourn Park High School, are now proposed for reassignment to the 12th high school.
• The neighborhoods of Smalls Crossing, Victory Ridge, White Oak Estates, Websters Landing and the eastern section of Trentdale, which are currently assigned to Hylton High School, are now proposed for reassignment to the 12th high school.
In regard to feeder schools, the new plan would take some students from both Benton and Beville middle schools.
Affecting Brentsville District Residents
New Bristow Village is moving from the Patriot High School attendance area to the Brentsville District High School attendance area. The rezoning is not a new change, but is consistent with Boundary Plan Version 1.2.
Likewise, the Brentsville District High School attendance area will lose some neighborhoods to the northeast to Osbourn Park High School. It will lose more neighborhoods on the southeast edge of its boundaries. Those students will attend to the 12th high school instead.
Demographics
The plan satisfies the demographic requirements of the United States Government by more equitably distributing minority students who attend public high schools in mid-Prince William County.
The PWCS Office of Facilities Services estimated that 45.7 percent of the population at the 12th high school will be members of a racial minority; 12.8 percent will be economically disadvantaged; and 2.9 percent will be Limited English Proficient.
These new demographics are more similar to that of nearby Osbourn Park High School, which will be at 53.6 percent minority, 25.2 percent economically disadvantaged and 9 percent LEP.
Moreover, should the Alternative Boundary Plan be accepted, it would not radically alter the demographic makeup of surrounding schools, which was also important to the D.O.J.
Osbourn Park’s demographics would not significantly change. The school would see only a 2.6 percent increase in minority students, a 5.1 percent increase in economically disadvantaged students and a 2.3 percent increase in LEP students.
PWCS estimates Hylton High School will be at 74.8 percent minority students after the 12th high school opens. However, it will also only see a small percentage increase over its previous demographic numbers. Hylton will receive 3.7 percent more minority students, 3.8 percent more economically disadvantaged students, and 0.9 percent more LEP students.
There is not a significant difference in demographics at Brentsville, Forest Park or Patriot High School, which are schools that will be minimally affected by these boundary changes.
Readers can look over demographic information here.
Balancing Enrollments
The opening of the 12th high school helps alleviate overcrowding at Osbourn Park, Hylton and Brentsville District high schools and, to a lesser extent, Forest Park and Patriot high schools.
In the school year 2016-17, Osbourn Park will open with an estimated enrollment at 87.8 percent capacity, in comparison to 121.2 percent capacity without the new school opening.
Comparative percentages for the other schools are as follows: Hylton 102.2% v. 119.2%; Brentsville 104.3% v. 123.7%; Forest Park 103.3% v. 108.9%; and Patriot 138.8% v. 133.7%.
The 12th high school will open in 2016 at 77.7 percent capacity, but that will increase to 101.7 percent in 2018-19 when it has a senior class. By 2018-19 school year, it will already be at 101.7 capacity.
One reason the plan does not do more to help alleviate overcrowding at Patriot and Battlefield high schools is that a 13th high school is planned to alleviate overcrowding in Western Prince William schools. Also, the 12th high school is located in mid-county.
Creating the Boundaries
While employees of the Office of Facilities Services worked with the D.O.J. to create the new Alternative Boundary Plans, Cartlidge said they also kept in mind the needs and desires of the community.
First and foremost, Cartlidge said he followed PWCS’s guidelines for creating school boundaries as outlined in School Board Policy 264 and 264-2. According to those policies, projected enrollments, school capacities, transportation distance, future school construction plans and the demographic balance of school populations are the primary considerations. Public input is a close second.
Cartlidge tried to please communities when possible. He gave the example of how they kept a Haymarket neighborhood within the Battlefield boundaries, as one example of how his department adhered to community wishes even though it was not possible to please every person.
Cartlidge acknowledged that not everyone is going to be happy with the new changes, and some parents have already reached out to the school to make their voices heard.
“We’ve received some phone calls since the public release voicing discontent. We are taking note of those,” Cartlidge said.
Opportunity for More Citizen Input
Cartlidge encourages parents who would like to provide their input to attend an informational meeting on the 12th high school Alternative Boundaries scheduled for Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Hylton High School.
Additionally, citizens can sign up to speak at Citizen’s Time before the School Board at their Nov. 5 and Nov. 18 meeting. [Note: The Nov. 18 meeting is being held on a Tuesday.)
And although the Alternative Boundary Plan has already received the approval of the D.O.J., Cartlidge said the School Board members will still have to decided if the plan meets their approval.
“It’s not our office that sets the school boundaries,” Cartlidge said.
Effect on Planning in the Future
Cartlidge said that in the future, PWCS will continue “to implement Polices 264 and 264-2 as the guidelines for boundary planning.”
And, when in the next calendar year, the policies are up for review, Cartlidge acknowledges that PWCS will consider the concerns of the United States Government.
“Parameters and processes will be reevaluated to adhere to whatever the United States advises as best practices,” Cartlidge said.
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