Recommended Boundary and Grade Structure Improvements

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Segun C. Eubanks, Ed.D., Chair

Carolyn M. Boston, Vice Chair, District 6

David Murray, District 1

Lupi Quinteros-Grady, District 2

Dinora A. Hernandez, Esq., District 3

Patricia Eubanks, District 4

Raaheela Ahmed, 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.

Mary Kingston Roche

Juwan Blocker, Student Board Member

Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D., Secretary Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer

Prince George’s County Board of Education

Overview

• Timeline

• Grade Reorganization

• Recommendations for school year 2017-2018

– Accokeek Area

– Buck Lodge Area

– Mt. Rainier Area

– Fairmont Heights Area

– Melwood Area

• Remaining Activities

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Timeline

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Date Activity

October 20 Community discussion @ James Madison Middle School

October 26 Community discussion @ Accokeek Academy

October 27 Community discussion @ Bladensburg High School

December 8 Follow up community discussion @ Thomas Stone Elementary School

December 14 Follow up community discussion @ Potomac Landing Elementary School

January 19 Board Discussion - Boundary, Grade and Program Adjustments @ Sasscer

January 24 Postal Mail Notification of Recommended Changes

February 2 Introduction of CEO’s plan to Board of Education (First Reader)

February 8 Public Hearing - Northern Area @ Bladensburg HS

February 9 Public Hearing - Southern Area @ Sasscer

February 23 Board of Education Vote on CEO’s Plan (Second Reader)

March 3 Postal Mail Notification of Approved Changes

August 2017 Implementation of Approved Changes

Recommended Grade Reorganization

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Drew Freeman MS

• Francis S. Key ES

• District Heights ES

• William Beanes ES

Ernest E. Just MS

• Ardmore ES

• Kingsford ES

G James Gholson MS

• Cora L. Rice ES

• Carmody Hills ES

Isaac Gourdine MS

• Rose Valley ES

Oxon Hill MS

• Flintstone ES

• Glassmanor ES

• Oxon Hill ES

Oxon Hill MS & Thurgood Marshall MS

• Valley View ES

Gwynn Park MS & Stephen Decatur MS

• Clinton Grove ES

After the 2016-2017 school year, sixth grade students from the following elementary

schools will be assigned to their neighborhood middle school:

Accokeek Area Background

Accokeek Academy:

• School is not a true K-8.

• Utilization is 99% (target is 80-95%).

• Preliminary revised capacity is 1,473.

• Reconfiguration of interior spaces resulted in additional classrooms.

• Residential growth has continued.

Ft. Washington Forest Elementary School:

• Utilization is 66% (target is 80-95%).

• Enrollment is 285 (preferred minimum is 411).

• Identified in MPSP as a possible consolidation.

Gwynn Park Middle School has 138 open seats.

Isaac Gourdine Middle School has 304 open seats.

Oxon Hill Middle School has 202 open seats.

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Feedback for Accokeek Area

• School Specific Comments from the Community:

– acknowledged the issue of overcrowding at Accokeek Academy.

– suggested unifying the boundary of Accokeek Academy to create a true K-8 academy.

– in favor of maintaining the TAG program.

– suggested verification of student addresses as a means of reducing overcrowding.

– suggested the conversion of Potomac Landing ES & Ft. Washington Forest ES to a multi-

campus PK-8 Academy.

– expressed concern regarding how a change in the middle school boundaries from

Accokeek Academy to Gwynn Park Middle or Isaac Gourdine Middle would affect

students’ academic performance.

– agreed unanimously that the previous recommendation from the CEO was the least

favored plan.

• In general, the community was concerned about:

– expanding special programs so that they are available at all schools.

– unevenness in academic rigor and performance across district schools.

– a need to improve transparency in district decision making.

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SY17-18 Recommendation for Accokeek Area

Accokeek Academy / Ft. Washington Forest Elementary

• Reassign “The Preserves” community and homes off of Danville Road and Floral Park Road

to Ft. Washington Forest ES for grades PreK-5.

• The middle school assignment for these areas would remain Accokeek Academy.

• “Grandfather” students currently attending Accokeek Academy.

Ft. Washington Forest Elementary / Potomac Landing Elementary

• Reassign the following streets and addresses from Ft. Washington Forest ES to Potomac

Landing ES: 609 to 708 Bricker Drive, Buckmaster Lane, Jeanie Court, Peace Drive, Pine

Tree Lane, Valor Drive, and Warburton Lane.

• Approximately 9 students would be affected and offered the right to remain.

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Current Modified

School Enrollment%

Utilized

Accokeek Academy 1,291 92%

Fort Wash. Forest ES 441 102%

School Enrollment%

Utilized

Accokeek Academy 1,447 103%

Fort Wash. Forest ES 285 66%

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Accokeek Area Elementary School Boundaries

Current

School Enrollment%

Utilized

Accokeek Academy 1,447 103%

Gwynn Park MS 627 82%

Isaac Gourdine MS 487 62%

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No change in boundaries.

Accokeek Area Middle School Boundaries

Buck Lodge Area Background

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Buck Lodge Middle School is over enrolled by 217 students.

• It is projected to be over enrolled by 530 in fall of 2019.

• Its site cannot accommodate more temporaries.

• Construction of new middle will not be ready for several years.

Martin L. King Jr. Middle School has 202 open seats.

Feedback for Buck Lodge Area

• School Specific Comments from the Community:

– acknowledged the issue of overcrowding at Buck Lodge MS and concurred that action must be taken.

– suggested using available space at Martin L. King Jr. MS by changing elementary feeder patterns.

– suggested postponing the move of 6th grade until the new middle schools planned for the area are complete.

– acknowledged that student enrollment in the north leaves few viable options for relieving overcrowding until new construction is complete.

– indicated that Buck Lodge MS needs more resources to academically support the school’s population.

• In general the community was concerned about:

– a need to improve transparency in district decision making.

– the schedule for construction and renovation in the MPSP.

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SY17-18 Recommendation for Buck Lodge Area

Buck Lodge Middle School / Martin L. King Jr., Middle School

• Reassign students residing in the Calverton ES attendance area from Buck

Lodge MS to Martin L. King Jr. MS for grades 6-8.

• Students currently attending Buck Lodge MS would be offered the right to

remain.

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Before After

School Enrollment % Utilized Enrollment % Utilized

Buck Lodge MS 1,234 121% 1,251 123%

Martin L. King Jr. MS 648 76% 1,046 123%

Buck Lodge Area Middle School Boundaries

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Mt. Rainier Area Background

• Mt. Rainier ES has 98 available seats and still serves the sixth grade.

• Thomas Stone ES is over enrolled by 157 students.

• Thomas Stone ES has been over enrolled and Mt. Rainier ES under enrolled for several years.

• Mt. Rainier ES’s most recent boundary change was in 2003-04 with the reassignment of

Cottage City to Rogers Heights ES.

• Thomas Stone ES’s most recent boundary change was in 2006-07 with the reassignment of

Kirkwood Apartments on Ager Rd. to Rosa Parks ES.

• All Thomas Stone ES neighborhood students live within the walk zone of Mt. Rainier ES.

• Efforts to promote voluntary transfers from Thomas Stone ES to Mt. Rainier ES have not

been effective.

• For both schools, the number of students coming from apartment homes has grown over the

past 10 years while the number from single-family homes has decreased.

• Both schools are planned for renovation during Cycle 2 of the Capital Improvement Program

Master Plan.

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Feedback for Mt. Rainier Area

• School Specific Comments from the Community:

– acknowledged the issue of overcrowding at Thomas Stone ES.

– expressed concern that a boundary change between Thomas Stone ES & Mt. Rainier ES would not provide enough relief due to the limited number of available seats at Mt. Rainier ES.

– suggested encouraging Thomas Stone ES students to voluntarily transfer to Mt. Rainier ES.

– concerned about the number of temporaries at Thomas Stone ES and the length of time they have been present.

• In general the community was concerned about:

– the schedule for construction and renovation in the MPSP.

– unevenness in academic rigor and performance across district schools.

– the need to improve transparency in district decision making.

– the need to improve communication between the district, parents and other community members.

– the need to provide the information presented in Spanish.

– a lack of understanding of the transfer process, particularly by non-English speaking parents.

– the distance of the elementary school walk zone (1.5 miles is a long distance for young children, especially in poor weather).

– the consideration of demographic composition when making boundary changes.

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SY17-18 Recommendation for Mt. Rainier Area

Mt. Rainier Elementary / Thomas S. Stone Elementary

• Reassign students residing in the Kaywood Garden Apartments, all homes located in

the City of North Brentwood, and homes located in the City of Brentwood that are

east of 38th street and south of the intersection of Volta Avenue and 39th street from

Thomas S. Stone ES to Mt. Rainier ES.

• Students currently attending Thomas Stone ES would be offered the right to remain.

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Before After

School Enrollment % Utilized Enrollment % Utilized

Thomas S. Stone ES 746 130% 663 115%

Mt. Rainier ES 315 78% 398 98%

Mt. Rainier Area Elementary School Boundaries

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Fairmont Heights Area Background

Fairmont Heights High School

• The school’s new facility was designed with a special education component to serve high school age students from Margaret Brent Regional School.

• The anticipated SRC of the new building is 1,000 and the current enrollment of Fairmont Heights High is 684.

• The neighborhood boundaries were examined as part of its relocation to a new site on Columbia Park Road.

• The new facility is scheduled to open in August 2017.

Margaret Brent Regional

• Approximately 39 students will move to the new Fairmont Heights High School.

Duval High School

• The Kentland neighborhood is located within the walk zone of the new Fairmont Heights High School.

• A portion of the neighborhood is assigned to DuVal High School which is 7 miles away.

• Approximately 65 high school age students reside in that portion of Kentland.

• Due its proximity to the new school it makes sense to reassign the entire neighborhood to Fairmont Heights High School.

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Feedback for Fairmont Heights Area

• School Specific Comments from the Community:

– requested better communication regarding the movement of students from Margaret

Brent to Fairmont Heights.

– expressed concern about teacher evaluations being completed by an administrator

who may be unfamiliar with the regional program.

– expressed concern about transportation to the new Fairmont Heights.

– concerned about the process of teacher transfers to Fairmont Heights.

– requested information explaining how students would be introduced to the new

school since many of them have attended Margaret Brent since Kindergarten.

• In general, the community was concerned about:

– the need to increase communication from PGCPS.

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SY17-18 Recommendation for Fairmont Heights Area

Fairmont Heights High / Duval High

• Reassign the portion of the Kentland neighborhood of Landover that is currently

assigned to DuVal HS to Fairmont Heights HS for grades 9-12.

• Students currently attending DuVal HS would be offered the right to remain.

Margaret Brent Regional

• High school age students from Margaret Brent Regional will be assigned to the new

Fairmont Heights High School.

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Before After

School Enrollment % Utilized Enrollment % Utilized

Fairmont Heights HS 683 76% 787 87%

DuVal HS 1,866 83% 1,801 80%

Margaret Brent Regional 119 78% 80 53%

Fairmont Heights Area High School Boundaries

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Melwood Area Background

• A Primary Years International Baccalaureate (IB) program was established at

Melwood ES in 2014 to complement the existing Middle Years IB program at

James Madison MS.

• The current middle school feeder pattern for Melwood ES is split between

James Madison MS (75%) and Stephen Decatur MS (25%).

• Feeding Melwood ES exclusively into James Madison MS would align the

Primary and Middle years IB programs and eliminate an unnecessary split in

the feeder pattern.

• Sixth graders from Clinton Grove ES are scheduled to be reassigned to Stephen

Decatur MS for SY17-18.

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Feedback for Melwood Area

• School Specific Comments from the Community:

– agreed that the feeder pattern for Melwood ES should be modified to support

continuity of student participation in the IB program.

– Suggested that the high school IB feeder pattern should also be altered so that

James Madison MS would feed solely into Frederick Douglass HS.

– Suggested that Dr. Henry Wise HS could serve students in grades 6-12 and

serve as the middle school feeder for Barack Obama ES rather than James

Madison MS.

• In general, the community was concerned about:

– expanding special programs so that they are available at all schools.

– unevenness in academic rigor and performance across district schools.

– a need to increase transparency in district decision making.

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SY17-18 Recommendation for Melwood Area

James Madison Middle / Stephen Decatur Middle

• Reassign students residing in the Melwood ES attendance area who are assigned to Stephen Decatur MS for grades 6-8 to James Madison MS for grades 6-8.

• Students currently attending Stephen Decatur MS would be offered the right to remain.

• Stephen Decatur Middle would receive sixth grade students from Clinton Grove ES as part of the grade structure reorganization.

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Before After

School Enrollment % Utilized Enrollment % Utilized

James Madison MS 702 83% 757 89%

Stephen Decatur MS 673 75% 676 75%

Melwood Area Middle School Boundaries

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Remaining Activities

The Board of Education will vote on the recommended changes at the Board Meeting

scheduled for February 23, 2017.

The public may provide additional feedback by:

1) Registering to speak at a Board Meeting:

– via the online registration form

– via telephone by calling the Board Office at (301) 952-6115.

– You must register to speak (either online or via telephone) at least 2 1/2 hours

prior to the scheduled meeting start time. You will have exactly 3 minutes to

address the Board and you may not yield your time to another party.

2) Email comments to testimony@pgcps.org

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