Announced Sept. 9, Noblesville Schools is looking to rebalance school boundaries after experiencing growth of approximately 200 new students each year district-wide.
The district has convened a committee to study the rebalancing of school boundaries. The committee is made up of district staff and parent representatives from each of the nine schools – all elementary and middle schools – potentially impacted.
A press release from Noblesville Schools stated that as numbers grow throughout the district, enrollment has topped more than 10,200 students for the 2016-17 school year.
“Increasing class sizes accounts for some of this growth, as graduating classes are smaller than incoming elementary classes,” the release stated. “For example, there are 633 students in the current senior class and the current fourth grade class across the district has 855 students.”
The district said this is creating a problem, as numbers are increasing drastically in some schools, like Noble Crossing and Promise Road elementary schools along the southern border of the city. As a result, Promise Road was required to bring in a portable trailer to accommodate classroom-space demands.
However, other schools, like North and Stony Creek elementary schools near downtown Noblesville, have seen slowed growth in recent years, creating space in their buildings to accommodate more students.
Within the district’s two middle schools, Noblesville East and Noblesville West, there is also an enrollment imbalance, with nearly 300 more students attending West Middle School.
“Rebalancing school boundaries often impacts multiple schools across the district, and we appreciate that this kind of change can be very stressful for families,” Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer stated in the press release. “Unfortunately, we can’t control where and how our growth occurs and must address it when we don’t have appropriate learning space for students. Providing the best student learning environments, minimizing disruptions to families and maximizing existing space are the key goals as this issue is explored. Direct involvement from parents on the committee is a meaningful part of the process.”
In 2014, the district commissioned a professional demographic study, which predicts a few tight years in future elementary enrollment numbers.
“District leaders are carefully monitoring growth and may seek a future capital referendum for new construction if it becomes warranted,” the press release stated.
Meetings will be held this winter at schools to discuss potential rebalancing plans, answer questions and seek input from parents. The committee plans to finalize its recommendations for school board approval this winter. Any proposed and approved boundary changes will go into effect for the 2017-18 school year.
