The details
According to district documents, district officials met with representatives with Zonda Demographics—a demographics and planning firm that serves more than 120 school districts—several times to come up with attendance boundary adjustments.
During his presentation to the board on Dec. 11, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Tim McClure said that while only elementary schools will be affected by boundary adjustments due to the opening of Perrin Elementary next year, the district has established recommendations for all schools across the district for future growth. Staff’s recommendations include:
- Students starting fifth grade next year would be eligible to remain at their existing elementary school.
- Students starting eighth grade next year would be eligible to remain at their existing middle school.
- Students starting 11th and 12th grade next year would be eligible to remain at their existing high school.
- Students choosing to remain would not receive bus transportation, and younger siblings would not be eligible.
McClure also discussed the guidelines he and his staff use to make boundary adjustments to try and hit their target when the district, which is the fastest growing district in North Texas, is experiencing such explosive growth. They include:
- Preventing campus overcrowding
- Maintaining student-to-teacher ratios
- Minimizing future boundary changes and its impact on students
- Improving efficiency of schools
- Considering the opening of new campuses
These variables include:
- Home sales
- Campus capacities
- Future developments
- Travel distances
- Available land
