Elementary boundary attendance areas are reviewed every 3-5 years for a variety of reasons.  The reviews create opportunities to ensure efficiencies in utilization of school space, balancing educational programming at all sites, and balancing class sizes.

The adjustments provide for better utilization of school space, a better balance of program opportunities across the district, and efficiencies in staffing.  The “neighborhood school” concept allows for families living in the same area to attend the same school and boundaries assist in easier transition for new families to our community.

Miltona Elementary School will continue to be a Science Magnet School and parents outside of the Miltona boundary area may choose to have their child/ren attend Miltona, with transportation being provided to resident district students, until Miltona School is at its capacity level.  In the past, there have been a few areas where transportation could not be provided due to the length of the ride time and this practice will continue.

All elementary school teachers in Alexandria Public Schools teach to the same curriculum standards and monitor student progress through District-approved tests, as well as using researched-based methods to deliver instruction.  The way instruction is delivered reflects the individuality of the staff members who work in our buildings.   

As the attendance areas are adjusted, children from a variety of schools will move.  The committee’s proposal supports students attending their “neighborhood” school, which may create student population changes in all 6 of our elementary schools.  All parents/guardians will be notified by mail of their child’s/ren’s proposed school placement for the 2020-21 school year if they are going to be affected.

The committee is recommending that we allow students who will be in 5^th grade during the 2020-21 school year to have the choice of staying at their current school or going to boundary specific neighborhood school. This “grandfathering” does not apply to siblings in lower grade levels.    

The School District reviews attendance boundaries every 3-5 years and makes as minimal of changes as possible in order to continue with efficiencies and programming that are beneficial to both our students and the School District.

It could. Each school’s start and end times are slightly different to accommodate the needs of our transportation department.   

We know that children adjust to change in different ways.  The School District provides opportunities for students to connect to their new classmates through an orientation event.  Teachers and other staff members will help children talk about changing schools as needed.  Your positive attitude about the change will go a long way in helping your child feel positive about a new school experience.  If you have specific concerns about your child’s adjustment please contact your child’s teacher, principal or social worker.  We are all focused on helping your child prepare for and adjust to their new school.

We recognize that this is one of the main concerns of parents.  We provide School-Age Childcare programs at our elementary schools.  These programs operate before and after school on school days, on school vacation days and also during the summer months.  Our Community Education Department manages this program and will make more information available to you later this spring.

The School District realizes that at times there may be unique situations where parents/guardians may request to have their child/ren attend an elementary building that is outside of their designated neighborhood school.  The district has an intradistrict transfer process for making such requests. These requests require consideration of class size numbers at the receiving building.     

If a family moves during the school year to a different attendance area the parents/guardians will have the option of having their child/ren continue to attend the initial school or they can choose to move their child/ren to the school within their new attendance area.  If the parents/guardians choose to have their child/ren continue to attend their initial school, they will be responsible for the transportation for the child/ren to and from that school or they can enroll their child in the school-age childcare program at the school. 

Alexandria Public Schools will follow the procedures outlined in Board Policy 560.