Changes Coming for Elementary Schools in Auburn
Posted May 9, 2012
UPDATE TO OUR ORIGINAL POST: Changes Have Been Approved - HERE is the Article from the Opelika-Auburn News
Many Auburn residents have expressed concerns over the changes taking place in the elementary grade shool zones. We believe you can't go wrong with ANY school in the Auburn system and feel that this is the most logical solution to manage Auburn City Schools' rapid growth.
Thanks to the Auburn School Board and system administrators for working hard to bring the very best solution to our growing population.
Here is the official press release in its entirety:
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Auburn City Schools
Press Release
Elementary Grade Reconfiguration and Proposed Zones Friday, April 6, 2012
To accommodate the continued growth in student enrollment, the Auburn City Schools Board of Education is constructing a new elementary school on North College Street. The facility, Pick Elementary School, is scheduled to open in August 2013. With eight elementary schools serving the students in kindergarten through
grade five, system administrators have proposed establishing a new map for school zones. Rather than create eight elementary school zones, Auburn City Schools is considering the implementation of four school zones, each zone having two schools. The pair of schools would serve students in a primary and intermediate grade range, with the first hosting students in grades K-2 and the second hosting students in grades 3-5.
Since 1992, Auburn City Schools has operated a Kindergarten school, Auburn Early Education Center. This reconfiguration of grades would blend the services of the Early Education Center and the existing six elementary schools (Cary Woods Elementary School, Dean Road Elementary School, Ogletree Elementary
School, Richland Elementary School, Wrights Mill Road Elementary School, and Yarbrough Elementary School.) Students in kindergarten, first and second grades would attend the primary school within their school zone, one of four within the city. Students in grades three, four, and five would attend the intermediate school within their school zone, the same zone in which they attended the partner primary school.
As proposed, the four school zones would be established with all efforts to protect the socioeconomic diversity of our community. The proposed map indicates that each zone is within +/- 3 percentage points of the Auburn City Schools free and reduced price meal participation rate of the elementary population. Additionally, efforts
have been made to displace the fewest numbers of students protecting the opportunity for children to attend at least one school in which they were previously zoned to attend. Furthermore, school bus routes and the lengths of time invested in the transportation to school have been reviewed and considered in developing the
proposed zone maps.
The administrators of Auburn City Schools have considered many scenarios and sought the input ofcommunity stakeholders and research scholars as well as having studied national patterns in grade configuration and school services. If approved, the proposed reconfiguration would be implemented in the Fall of 2013; all school zones and grades of students served will remain as they presently exist for one additional
school year, no change will affect the operations in the 2012-2013 scholastic year.
In August of 2013, students would be zoned to one of the following four school zones:
? Cary Woods Elementary School and Pick Elementary School
? Richland Elementary School and Yarbrough Elementary School
? Dean Road Elementary School and Wrights Mill Road Elementary School
? Auburn Early Education Center and Ogletree Elementary School
Cary Woods, Richland, Dean Road, and AEEC would serve students in grades K-2. Pick, Yarbrough, Wrights Mill Road, and Ogletree would serve students in grades 3-5. The attached map illustrates the proposed school zones.
The Board of Education received the recommendation for this plan today and will meet on Tuesday, May 8, for their regularly scheduled meeting at which they will consider approving the proposed changes.
As identified on the attached proposal:
RED:
Cary Woods Elementary School will serve students in grades K-2 partnered with Pick Elementary School serving students in grades 3-5.
GREEN:
Richland Elementary School will serve students in grades K-2 partnered with Yarbrough Elementary School serving students in grades 3-5.
YELLOW:
Dean Road Elementary School will serve students in grades K-2 partnered with Wrights Mill Road Elementary School serving students in grades 3-5.
PURPLE:
Auburn Early Education Center will serve students in grades K-2 partnered with Ogletree Elementary School serving students in grades 3-5.
Tags: Auburn School Board, Elementary School Zoning Changes, Auburn City Schools