Presentation slides from Nicole Foerschler. Presented at Virginia-Highland Civic Association.

1. VHCA Redistricting Forum
WELCOME!

2. AGENDA
 Goals of APS
SPARK Forum
 Demographic information for SPARK
 Review of District Maps
 Community Feedback: Values and
Opportunities
 Next Steps for Our Community

3. Goals of APS and Demographers
 Balance current building utilization to 80% to 90%
of planning capacity
 Recommend school consolidation/closures in areas
where forecasted enrollment does not support
multiple schools
 Provide added capacity for growth in zones which are
projected to experience further enrollment increases
 Propose boundaries that will be functional for 10
years if possible

4. Objectives of Demographers
 Attempt to assign students closest to their homes
 Attempt to avoid splitting neighborhoods
 Insure student safety and transportation efficiency
by using major geographic features as boundaries
 Attempt to maximize/keep feeder concept in tact

5. Demographic Trends
1800
1600
1400
1200
SPARK
1000
SPARK cap
800 Inman
600 Inman Cap
Grady
400 Grady Cap
200
0

6. Framing the Capacity Challenge
1800
1600
1400
1200
2012
1000 2015
800 2018
600 2021
Capacity
400
200
0
SPARK Inman Grady

7. Current Feeder Schools into Inman
 Morningside Elementary
 Not included in Options 1, 2, 3, and 4
 Centennial
 Not included in Options 1, 2, 3, and 4
 SPARK Elementary
 Remains at Inman for all options
 Mary Lin
 Remains at Inman for all options

8. Changes to Grady Feeder Schools
 SPARK Elementary
 Mary Lin Elementary
 Morningside Elementary
 Not included in Grady for Options 3 and 4
 Hill-Hope Elementary
 Not included in Grady for Options 1, and 2
 Toomer Elementary
 Not included in Grady for Options 1, 2, and 3
 Centennial Elementary
 Not included in Grady for Options 2 and 4
 East Lake Elementary
 Recommended for closure in all 4 options

9. District Maps: Option 1
 SPARK – No significant changes
 Feeds to Inman Middle School
 Feeds to Grady High School
 Inman Middle School Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion)
 SPARK
 Grady High School Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion)
 Morningside
 Centennial
 SPARK

10.  Elementary School
Challenges  Does not help SPARK with capacity
with Option 1 issues
 This is the option that impacts SPARK
the least
 Middle School
 Breaks up the Morningside/Va
Highland Community

11. District Maps: Option 2
 SPARK – Poncey-Highland is zoned out
 Feeds to Inman Middle School
 Feeds to Grady High School
 Inman Middle Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion) / Hill-Hope
 SPARK
 Grady High School Includes
 Morningside
 Mary Lin (w/expansion) / Hill-Hope
 SPARK

12.  Elementary School
Challenges  Poncey-Highland is close to SPARK
with Option 2  Does not help overcrowding at SPARK
 More change for our neighborhood
 Middle School
 Breaks up the Morningside/Va
Highland Community

13. District Maps: Option 3
 SPARK – Combines with Hope-Hill
 Feeds to Inman
 Feeds to Grady
 Inman Middle Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion)
 SPARK / Hope-Hill
 Grady High School Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion)
 SPARK / Hope-Hill
 Centennial

14. District Maps: Option 4
 SPARK – Combines with Hope-Hill
 Feeds to Inman
 Feeds to Grady
 Inman Middle Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion) / Toomer
 SPARK / Hope-Hill
 Grady High School Includes
 Mary Lin (w/expansion) / Toomer
 SPARK / Hope-Hill

15.  Elementary School
Challenges  Does not help overcrowding
with Option 3  School hours are different
 Creates transportation problems for
our kids and community
 Middle School
 Breaks up the Morningside/Va
Highland Community
 High School
 Breaks up the Morningside/Va
Highland Community

16. Our Community’s Challenge
 SPARK is overcrowded
 Inman is overcrowded
 Grady WILL BE overcrowded

17. Moving Forward: Our Values
 Small neighborhood
schools
 Walk-able schools
 Keep community
together

18. What Else We Know…
 SPARK can grow –
SPLOST $$
 Mid-town Middle School
may be unnecessary
 Existing unused space
 Howard High School
 Walden Middle School

19. The SPARK Solution – BUILD NOW
 Prioritize SPLOST
 Add Capacity
 Maintain Neighborhoods
 Virginia-Highland
 Midtown
 Poncey-Highland
 Druid Hills

20. What Can I Do Next?
 Fill out the survey by Friday, December
16th - http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/23746
 Write letters and ask to:
 Expand SPARK capacity
 Keep our schools walk-able
 Keep our community together