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
Overview • Community Discussions • Recommendations • Next Steps • Opportunities for Public Input 2 The Promise of PGCPS
Community Discussions 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: � Accokeek Area � Forestville Area (Skyline Elementary) � Adelphi / Beltsville Area (Buck Lodge Middle) 3 The Promise of PGCPS
Community Discussions 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. 4 The Promise of PGCPS
Community Discussions Forestville Study Area 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. 5 The Promise of PGCPS
Community Discussions Adelphi / Beltsville Study Area • Community members expressed concern regarding overcrowding at Buck Lodge Middle. Concern was raised regarding moving 6 th 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 6 th 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. 6 The Promise of PGCPS
Grade Organization Recommendations For the following elementary schools, assign the 6 th 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) 7 The Promise of PGCPS
Buck Lodge Study Area Background 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. 8 The Promise of PGCPS
Buck Lodge Study Area Recommendations Improvement Plan (Part A) • 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% 9 The Promise of PGCPS
Accokeek Study Area Background 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 10 The Promise of PGCPS
Accokeek Study Area Recommendations 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. 11 The Promise of PGCPS
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 12 The Promise of PGCPS
Accokeek Study Area Recommendations 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% 13 The Promise of PGCPS
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