CR Readies for Redistricting

By Amelia Spring

In June 2014, Council Rock School District administrators and stakeholders set out to solve some of the problems that face the district, including aging infrastructure and unbalanced enrollment across the district. The district noticed pockets of population density in certain areas that led to overcrowding in many schools, mainly the Northampton elementary schools. The district decided to solve these problems by redistricting certain areas, as well as renovating current infrastructure.

The district developed these plans with the goal of balancing enrollment figures across the district. In order to achieve such balance, 9.39% of elementary students will change schools. This movement of students will help to keep all elementary school capacities around 90%.
The district has decided that students currently in grades 6-12 will not switch schools and will still graduate at the high school they were supposed to attend before the redistricting, even if they are located in a redistricted area.

However, current kindergarten through 5th graders who live in a redistricted area will have to switch schools beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. 

CRSD has also planned many changes for the infrastructure of the district, including renovations for Holland Middle School, Wrightstown Elementary School, and Rolling Hills Elementary School.

The district plans to close Richboro Middle School, and the Wrightstown Elementary School students will temporarily use the Richboro Middle School building during the Wrightstown renovations.

However, the change that is arguably most exciting is the construction of a new Newtown Middle School. The new NMS building will be finished by May or June of this year. According to Mr. Long, the NMS principal, the new structure will have better Wi-Fi connectivity, bigger classrooms, and easier access to the gym and auditorium.

Overall, the changes CRSD is making may seem intimidating, but they will be very beneficial to the students in the district. These changes can improve student experiences by reducing overcrowding and making school facilities more attractive and useful.

As Mr. Long explained while describing the changes taking place at the middle school, we should be excited “to forge new customs and traditions while maintaining CR’s excellence in education.”

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