A proposed rezoning plan in Alvin ISD would change the southern attendance zone boundary for Shadow Creek High School.
Some students at Alvin ISD would attend different schools next year if trustees approve a proposed rezoning plan for the 2020-2021 school year that seeks to address the district’s relentless growth.
For the next school year, the district has largely focused on considering changes to zones south of Shadow Creek High along the Texas 288 corridor. That could include moving the southern boundary of Shadow Creek High School’s attendance zone north to the American Canal, said Rory Gesch, dthe district’s deputy superintendent of operations. If that happens, an area previously zoned for Shadow Creek would be in Manvel High School’s attendance zone.
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Gesch and district Chief of Operations Patrick Miller led a boundary advisory committee that came up with recommendations for trustees to consider to keep schools under enrollment capacity.
The school board will hear a final presentation from the 60-member committee at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Alvin ISD Education Foundation, 301 E. House St. The committee includes parents and educators who met four times in November and December. Draft reports and maps for the plans for all grade levels are at https://bit.ly/3aRoKEr.
Though the district isn’t opening any new campuses in the 2020-2021 school year, administrators aim to adjust zones to accommodate the opening of Junior High 8 on Manvel Parkway at Meridiana Parkway in 2021 as well as newly rebuilt E. C. Mason Elementary, which is set to open that fall at 7220 School Road, Manvel. Beyond that, a fourth high school will open fall 2022 at 3700 County Road 64, Iowa Colony and the district’s 21st elementary campus is planned for opening at that time.
The 252-square-mile district is adding about 1,000 students each year and has an enrollment of approximately 27,000.
Miller and Gesch said they wanted to devise a plan where school’s enrollments are at the right level to ensure quality learning by students.
“Kids’ opportunities are more relevant at a campus when it’s within a certain size,” Miller said. “Leveling is one of those things that helps ensure quality instruction.”
Alvin ISD builds its elementary campuses to house 800 pupils, its junior highs to serve 1,000 and its high schools to accommodate 2,500.
Since the 2008-2009 school year, Alvin ISD has opened 10 new elementary schools — including Nelson and Sanchez which opened last fall — and five new junior highs. Also during that time, the district opened Shadow Creek High School and added space to Manvel High School.
Alvin ISD last shifted its boundaries in 2016.
With next school year’s proposed changes and future shifts likely, Miller said he understands some parents may find the changes jarring for their children. To that end, the district does have a transfer policy for those who’d like to stay put if their school attendance zone changes.
“People don’t like change, especially when it impacts their kids,” Miller said. “They want continuity, and we want that as much as they do; so we’ve updated our transfer policies so if a family is invested in and has a connection to a campus, the transfer policy tries to allow them to stay and continue on there.”
Gesch explained how some families may qualify for a transfer.
“Transfers can be made if (a student is) currently enrolled in the campus, and we also look at the student’s attendance and discipline records,” he said.
However, students who choose and are granted the transfer option will not be afforded transportation services through the district.
A snapshot overview of the policy is available under the “School Boundary Advisory Committee” tab on the website. For the full terms, log on to www.alvinisd.net/Page/3265.
Gesch said he expects several families to take advantage of the transfer policy, which is available to students across grade levels.
