Wide Open Spaces
The new school zoning lines were drawn to make the district run more economically by filling up schools that now have too few students and closing others. At least that's what the plan's advocates have been insisting. But as Metro Council member Emily Evans points out on her blog, it will create inefficiencies as well.
Hillwood High School, for instance, will operate at less than its student capacity because so many black children no longer will go there. It’ll go from 1,406 to 933 for a building that holds 1,745 kids, Evans points out. Schools in the Hillwood cluster might lose even more students over time, she says.
The school re-zoning plan indicates that neighborhoods in the Hillwood cluster are "ripe" for development that will increase the student population. MNPS folks apparently haven't been to a zoning community meeting here lately. Seriously, as I have said before, one of the biggest barriers for Hillwood schools in this district becoming neighborhood schools is the sheer lack of children. The population is older. Many people are affluent enough to afford private schools. There are a number of strong church based schools in the area. We could very well be looking at school closings if we don't see a shift in the local demographics.
Isn’t it lovely for our Hillwood children that they won't have to trouble themselves with all the clutter of crowded schools? There’ll be so much room that they can probably put their stuff on one desk and sit in another one.
Comments
Emily Evans only speaks for her district. Those of us in district 35 (Bo Mitchell) can tell you that Bellevue is full of high school age kids whose parents may or may not reconsider Hillwood as a viable option, especially if leadership changes within the school occur. No one can see the future with certainty, but it is likely that more families will at least try Hillwood in future years.
Also, as to capacity, I am not going to argue with projected numbers. But I would like to point out that if you knew the crazy mathematics that MNPS uses to ascertain capacity in schools, you would know that Hillwood can in no way fit 1700+ kids. It doesn't have the restrooms, the cafeteria space or the actual classroom space for that many children. Somewhere between 1300-1400 kids is a far more accurate figure for true capacity.
I agree with Emily Evans that West Meade has an older population, but Bellevue has a young family demographic for the most part.
Posted 07/10/2008 at 02:28:20 PMJeff, would you please quit writing about the kids in the Hillwood schools like they and their families are wealthy, entitled elites? When the school year starts, you should go visit these schools and get a clue who you are writing about before you keep popping off these missives that make it clear you have zero idea what you're talking about.
Posted 07/10/2008 at 03:45:22 PM