BCPS High School Capacity & Conditions Study: Community Outreach Strategy By: Anirban Basu Sage Policy Group, Inc. On Behalf of Baltimore County Public Schools December 11 th, 2018
The Nature of the Endeavor Over the next 10 years, BCPS is facing a high school capacity shortfall of approximately 1,700 seats; Initially, Sage Policy Group and GWWO Architects were tasked with: studying current and prospective overcrowding; collecting community feedback on multiple occasions in multiple ways; providing recommendations to BCPS.
Capacity and Enrollment: 2027 Projection Catonsville Chesapeake Dulaney Dundalk/Sollers Point Eastern Technical Franklin G.W. Carver Hereford Kenwood Lansdowne Loch Raven Milford Mill New Town Overlea Owings Mills Parkville Patapsco Perry Hall Pikesville Randallstown Sparrows Point Towson Western School of Technology Woodlawn Enrollment Capacity 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Community Outreach Plan A three-pronged approach to gathering community feedback: Focus Groups Location Gallery Walks Location June 18 th Catonsville High School July 9 th Catonsville High School June 19 th Loch Raven High School July 12 th Carver High School June 20 th Pikesville High School July 17 th Dundalk High School June 25 th Dundalk High School September 18 th New Town High School September 24 th Eastern Technical High School October 2 nd Loch Raven High School Focus Groups Small group discussions: gathered feedback informed the scenarios presented tonight Surveys Online questionnaires through which all stakeholders may provide feedback Gallery Walks Public information sessions where stakeholders can view the options and complete the online survey
Focus Groups Dates Location Focus group participants indicated that: Community Focus Groups Principal s Focus Group June 18 th June 19 th June 20 th June 25 th June 29th Greenwood, Catonsville High School Loch Raven High School Pikesville High School Dundalk High School Building E The optimal size of a school is between 1,000 and 1,400 seats; Magnet programs are a valuable resource but access to them could be improved; Students from the same neighborhood should attend the same school, including as they transition to middle/high; Facility conditions should be considered as part of the capacity study; Higher property taxes are acceptable if necessary to fund a workable solution.
Scenario 2: Use Existing Seats Aggressively
Scenario 3: Just Build It
Scenario 5: Toward Optimal School Size
The Initial Seven Scenarios
The Initial Survey Region Responses % of Total Central 1,068 31.9% Northeast 721 21.5% Northwest 231 6.9% Southeast 197 5.9% Southwest 1,123 33.5% Other 12 0.4% Total 3,352 100.0% Relationship w/ BCPS Responses % of Total Current student 267 4.8% Parent/relative 1,495 26.8% Relative prospective 1,037 18.6% Alumni 416 7.4% Live neighborhood 1,420 25.4% Volunteer 180 3.2% Interested 486 8.7% Other 285 5.1% Total 5,586 100.0%
Should BCPS use all seats at schools that have surplus capacity, even if it means redistricting students in significant numbers? 100% 2.9% 3.8% 5.2% 4.8% 2.7% 3.3% 90% 80% 34.9% 70% 60% 40.8% 46.5% 57.0% 56.4% 75.0% 50% Favor Disfavor 40% 30% 20% 40.2% 61.2% 54.0% 48.7% 40.3% Neutral 10% 0% 22.3% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall Favor = Strongly Agree + Somewhat Agree Disfavor = Strongly Disagree + Somewhat Disagree Neutral = No Opinion
Should BCPS Consider Program Placement when Considering Strategies to Address Capacity Issues? 100% 13.3% 10.1% 6.4% 7.6% 15.0% 12.4% 90% 8.4% 8.0% 12.5% 80% 13.3% 11.5% 12.6% 70% 60% Favor 50% 40% 30% 73.4% 81.9% 85.2% 79.9% 72.5% 76.2% Disfavor Neutral 20% 10% 0% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall Favor = Strongly Agree + Somewhat Agree Disfavor = Strongly Disagree + Somewhat Disagree Neutral = No Opinion
What do you view as the largest enrollment a high school can maintain and still supply a high quality educational experience? 50% 45% 44.0% 44.4% 46.0% 41.3% 40% 39.6% 35% 30% 25% 25.9% 33.7% 33.0% 30.7% 20% 15% 10% 5% 20.2% 17.4% 9.5% 8.9% 20.5% 4.9% 4.4% 14.3% 10.2% 6.6% 6.3% 4.1% 4.5% 13.3% 20.8% 19.6% 15.6% 20.8% 18.6% 11.3% 9.7% 0% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall 1,000 students or fewer 1,400 students or fewer 1,700 students or fewer 2,000 students or fewer No limit
What is the maximum amount you would support BCPS spending on meeting its high school capacity challenges? 100% 90% 80% 32.0% 19.1% 18.1% 23.7% 33.8% 28.3% 70% 17.1% 18.7% 12.7% 60% 50% 22.2% 24.2% 22.3% 22.5% 19.0% 19.1% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 21.3% 20.4% 19.7% 24.9% 22.5% 28.5% 21.8% 18.0% 20.2% 16.1% 18.5% 7.4% 11.0% 7.3% 9.4% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall Well below $300 million About $300 million About $400 million About $500 million About $600 million
Should BCPS select the least expensive option for dealing with high school capacity issues? 100% 3.78% 7.94% 7.25% 7.47% 6.10% 5.9% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 79.81% 67.30% 62.18% 66.67% 81.30% 75.5% Favor Disfavor 40% 30% Neutral 20% 10% 0% 16.41% 24.76% 30.57% 25.86% 12.60% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall 18.5% Favor = Strongly Agree + Somewhat Agree Disfavor = Strongly Disagree + Somewhat Disagree Neutral = No Opinion
A Study Extended & Expanded Facility Conditions Stakeholders wanted facility conditions to be included in the analysis Community Continuity Feeder patterns designed to keep students from the same neighborhood together are critical More Magnets A solution should improve instructional opportunities for students On July 27 th, Superintendent Verletta White issued a letter explaining that the study would be expanded to include these three considerations via: 1. A new set of scenarios 2. A second survey 3. Three additional Gallery Walks
The Second Survey Region Responses % of Total Central 2,927 46.5% Northeast 929 14.8% Northwest 399 6.3% Southeast 359 5.7% Southwest 1,647 26.2% Other 30 0.5% Total 6,291 100.0%
Which Scenario Do You View Most Favorably? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 52.3% 17.7% 33.9% 23.1% 27.3% 31.5% 19.8% 16.1% 42.9% 36.9% Scenario A 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 33.4% 34.2% 48.3% 49.6% 52.4% 37.3% 28.9% 14.4% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall Scenario B Scenario C
Which Scenario Do You View Least Favorably? 100% 90% 20.4% 80% 70% 60% 8.3% 53.4% 50.8% 43.1% 53.3% 35.8% 11.7% Scenario A 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 71.3% 28.5% 6.5% 19.9% 23.3% 40.2% 26.7% 25.8% 28.5% 52.6% Scenario B Scenario C 0% Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Overall
Priorities Suggestions for the Onset of Implementation A new Towson High School (or at Loch Raven) Central Region is the most overcrowded Add Seats at Sparrows Point and/or Patapsco High School A New School at Lansdowne