Upcoming Redistricting at North Allegheny
Planning to implement in 2020-2021 school year
Dear NASD Families,

The North Allegheny School District is in the early phases of planning for redistricting for the 2020-2021 school year. School redistricting is the process of redrawing elementary and middle school boundaries to produce an equitable distribution of students among different schools.

The most recent redistricting was implemented during the 2014-2015 school year with the intention that the results would last five to seven years. One of the primary goals of the upcoming redistricting is to develop a scenario that is sustainable and will work well into the future.

Why Redistrict Now?

The District has experienced significant growth over the past few years. Elementary school capacity has not been able to keep up with that growth, resulting in disconnected school attendance zones and an imbalance between where students live and where the schools are located. During the 2017-2018 school year, it was projected by a local, well-known demographer that enrollment will continue to increase significantly in the coming years. 

The elementary schools in the District are quickly approaching their capacities for classroom and support spaces for students. Portable classrooms are currently in use at Bradford Woods Elementary and will be utilized at Marshall Elementary for the 2019-2020 school year in order to accommodate the large and growing student population. Franklin Elementary, which is located in an area of the District that has seen significant population growth over the last two decades, will be expanded as part of a renovation project that will occur over the next two summers to double the building’s overall capacity. 

The elementary and middle school boundary lines that were last drawn for the 2014-2015 school year can be seen below or on the SchoolSiteLocator website. As mentioned above, there is a visible disconnect between school attendance zones and an imbalance between where students live and where the schools are physically located. 


Below is a graphic highlighting current Elementary School Zones

Below is a graphic highlighting current Middle School Zones

Upcoming Survey

On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, an email with a link to a survey will be sent to all current K-12 parents and guardians regarding the upcoming redistricting. The intention of the survey is for families to share what their priorities are in this process. The survey will provide five parameters and ask parents/guardians to rank the parameters from the highest priority to the lowest priority using a seven-point scale. Those parameters include: 

  • Keep housing plans together.
  • Provide room in buildings for additional growth to maximize the amount of time before the next redistricting.
  • Use main roads to help delineate school sending zones.
  • Avoid sending small groups of students to different middle schools than their elementary school classmates.
  • Send elementary school students to the school closest to their home.

During the most recent redistricting implemented during the 2014-2015 school year, the District prioritized moving the least amount of students possible. With the District’s ever-growing student population and the expanded capacity at Franklin Elementary School, the District is striving for a long-term solution for the 2020-2021 redistricting, which cannot be achieved by moving the least amount of students. Additionally, 5th grade students were provided the option to complete their final year of elementary school at their current building during the most recent redistricting process. While the flexibility and desire for this option are understandable, the District is likely unable to provide this option in the upcoming redistricting given the number of students who may be moving to a new school. 

All parents/guardians of students in grades K-12 are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey. We understand that families of current high school students may feel as though they will not be impacted by this; however, the District is interested in hearing your feedback and thoughts based on your past experience with redistricting at North Allegheny. Feedback from all families in grades K-12 is vital and valuable to this process. 

Timeline for 2020-2021 Redistricting

Spring 2019
  • Collect feedback to help develop the goals and parameters of redistricting through a survey sent to all NA families on May 28, 2019

Fall 2019
  • Share a scenario that addresses the goals identified in the survey that was sent to all parents/guardians on May 28, 2019
  • NA School Board votes on the redistricting final scenario

Winter 2019/Spring 2020
  • Develop and implement transition activities for students

This information can be found at any time on our website at www.northallegheny.org/redistricting. Further details will be posted to this section of our website as plans continue to evolve over the next several months. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

The North Allegheny School District