• Attendance Area Changes

    The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø understands that attendance areas will change when new buildings open, and may need to be adjusted when school buildings have grown beyond their capacity. 

    In the fall of 2023, the school district began the process to make adjustments to the district’s attendance areas to incorporate a new elementary school in south Columbia.  The work also includes adjustments to address areas of growth in the district.

  • Guiding Principles 

    • Attendance areas do change and will continue to change. This work is part of a regular review of district enrollment patterns.
    • The attendance area should anticipate future growth of neighborhoods. A walkable and bikeable school is important, but may not always be possible.
    • The attendance area seeks to reflect the composition of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø community.
    • The board recognizes the power of a school to create a community. Accessibility for families is important (volunteering and attending school functions are easier when the school is near).
    • Consider the time students spend on a bus and the distance traveled to and from school.
    • Consider attendance areas boundary lines that follow natural/man-made boundaries.
    • Consider a transfer policy that allows 5th graders to remain at their previous school and policies that allow siblings to remain.

    Estimated Timeline for Attendance Area Process

    Board of Education Presentations

    Resources

  • Phase I Changes

    The Board of Education voted on April 17, 2024, to adopt Option 1 changes for Phase I. The changes will be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.

    Surveys were conducted to gather feedback on 3 options related to Phase I changes. 

    Comments may be provided to the Board of Education by completing a comment form (linked). You will not receive a response to the message. However, please know the Board has received your submission. 

    Phase II and III Changes

    Comments may be provided to the Board of Education by completing a comment form (linked). You will not receive a response to the message. However, please know the Board has received your submission.