New boundaries to be rolled out in two phases; first phase will be implemented next school year

HOUSTON – March 22, 2017 – The Spring Independent School District Board of Trustees approved new attendance boundaries during the regular board meeting Tuesday, March 21.

The district’s new attendance boundaries will be rolled out over the next several years; with the first set of changes to some elementary and middle school boundaries going into effect next school year. Changes to additional middle school attendance boundaries as well as new boundaries for the district’s three comprehensive high schools will not be implemented until 2020-21.

According to Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Rodney Watson the attendance boundary changes are designed to even out school capacity levels across the district and create stronger and clearer feeder patterns.

“The proposed middle and high school boundary changes provide us a unique opportunity to establish true feeder patterns from middle to high schools across the district – offering our schools the opportunity for increased collaboration, stronger academics and innovative pathways,” said Watson.

Currently, the district has only one middle school with a clear feeder pattern to a single high school – Dueitt Middle School to Spring High School. Once the new attendance boundary changes are fully implemented, five middle schools will have clear feeder patterns to a single high school.

A review of the district’s current attendance boundaries began in December, immediately following voter approval of a $330 million bond program that includes the addition of a new middle school in the north and a ninth-grade center for each of the district’s three comprehensive high schools.

The process also included a cross-functional group of stakeholders that reviewed district demographics, school capacity and academic programs. Additionally, the district held four community meetings and issued a community survey to gather feedback.

On Tuesday the Board also approved a new policy that supports the district’s attendance boundary process. As a result, students affected by any boundary changes who are entering grades five and eight would be eligible to remain at their current school if the school has capacity. Students in grades 11 or 12 will also have the option to remain at their current campus. Students who choose this option will not be eligible for district-provided transportation.

Families affected by the boundary changes will receive notification via email and regular U.S. Mail.

For more information about the attendance boundary process, please visit www.springisd.org/attendanceboundaries.