‘We don’t want to be split in half’

There are new details on Seattle Public Schools’ efforts to create a new “student assignment plan,” reconfiguring the boundaries designating which schools students will attend. The new plan will assign each home, by proximity, to three schools: elementary, middle and high school. “We’re going to a have a lot of change,” said Torrey Volk, a Ballard parent who was asked to help keep Ballard in the loop on the issue. The most change will impact Ballard High School, because nearby Magnolia and Queen Anne don’t have their own high schools. “In reality, Magnolia has to be going to Ballard. There’s no other place to go,” Volk said, pointing to a map during this week’s Ballard District Council meeting. “(But) we can’t all fit in Ballard. It’s just not going to happen.”

Volk says Seattle Schools will have to make some tough decisions on where to draw the line, likely sending students north of the line to Ingraham High School on 135th St. There have been rumors of 67th St., 75th St. and 85th St., but Volk said they’re only rumors — Seattle Schools is currently gathering data to create new reference area models. The computer models are expected to be completed in March and voted on by the Seattle Public Schools board in June.

In the meantime, Volk urges Ballard families to get involved and provide their input. There will be community meetings announced in March, and Volk provided this email address for Tracy Libros, Manager Enrollment and Planning Services: trlibros@seattleschools.org. “We don’t want to be split in half,” Volk said, “Our high school is a very strong community.”

Plus: See the Seattle Public Schools map here. (Click a region to zoom in.)
Also: Open enrollment under the current system begins March 2nd. You can see more details (.pdf) as well as the schedule of school tours and open houses.