Henrico's scaled-back school redistricting up for vote
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The final redistricting proposal the Henrico County School Board is scheduled to vote on next week has dwindled down from shuffling 1,800 students to affecting roughly 680 students.
Why it matters: Some county school board members are now wondering if it's worth moving school boundaries at all, the Henrico Citizen reports.
Catch up quick: In September, the Henrico County School Board proposed boundary changes that would've affected more than 1,800 students across 16 schools, largely to address potential overcrowding at some schools.
- After fierce community opposition to some of the proposals — largely to one that would've pushed Quioccasin middle school students to Tuckahoe — the board amended the plan a month later to one that moved fewer than 800 students at 10 schools.
- A few weeks later, it amended plans again, leaving the district with proposals that would affect just 680 students at eight schools, per WRIC.
By the numbers: The remaining proposals the board is considering would move:
- 277 Tucker High School students ➡️ Hermitage High School
- 182 Hermitage High students ➡️ Henrico High
- 133 Freeman High students ➡️ Godwin High
- 80 Highland Springs High students ➡️ Henrico High
- 6 Tuckahoe Middle students ➡️ Quioccasin Middle
- 8 Maybeury Elementary students ➡️ Carver Elementary
Zoom in: If approved, the new districts would go into effect for the next school year, with the exception of the Tuckahoe-to-Quioccasin proposal, which would begin in 2027.
- Yes, but: The board approved a new "grandfathering policy" as part of the redistricting process that allows all current high school students to elect to stay where they are, per the Henrico Citizen.
What they're saying: Because of the grandfathering clause, and the smaller number of students affected, at least two of the county's five school board members have indicated they're on the fence about the final proposal, the Citizen reports.
- "It just makes me wonder if any of this is even necessary," Three Chopt District Rep. Madison Irving said at a recent meeting.
The other side: "I still wholeheartedly believe Freeman needs capacity relief. . . for the better part of 10 years, they've been over capacity," Tuckahoe District Rep. Marcie Shea said.
- "Right now, to walk [Henrico High] hallways and not see many students there ... understanding that we won't have a JV girls basketball team and watching the band dwindle in front of my eyes ... and these other schools get to enjoy those things," said Fairfield Rep. Ryan Young, whose district includes Henrico High.
Of note: On average, the county schools are at 84% capacity, but some, like Tucker and Freeman high schools, are over 100%. Others, like Henrico High, are at 63%.
What's next: The Henrico County School Board is scheduled to vote on the latest plan at its Dec. 18 meeting.