School Redistricting Proposal Moves Forward, Officials Seek Feedback In Anne Arundel

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD - A school redistricting proposal for northern Anne Arundel County cleared its latest hurdle.

The Board of Education voted unanimously last Wednesday to move Superintendent Mark Bedell's redistricting recommendation to public hearings, The Capital reported.

What It Means

Bedell's plan, if passed, would force about 6,400 students to change schools at some point. That's fewer than any of the other scenarios previously considered, Anne Arundel County Public Schools said.

Thirteen schools are currently over capacity in North County. The redistricting proposal would reduce overcrowding and bring each of those schools under 100% capacity.

The plan would set the boundaries for Old Mill West High School and West County Elementary School, which are set to open in fall 2024.

The proposal would also revisit high school lines for the Chesapeake, Glen Burnie, Meade, North County, Northeast and Old Mill clusters.

As it stands, 12th-graders who would otherwise have to change schools would be able to register as legacy students and stay at their current high school for their senior year. Bus transportation would not be provided for them, however.

The plan would also create two split articulations as students move from elementary school through high school.

MacArthur Middle School students living in the Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School and Van Bokkelen Elementary School boundary areas would attend Old Mill West High School instead of Meade High School.

Corkran Middle School students living in the Oakwood Elementary School and Woodside Elementary School boundaries would go to Old Mill High School rather than Glen Burnie High School.

Following public feedback, Freetown Elementary School students would still move on to Marley Middle School and Glen Burnie High School.

There are currently 41 schools in this area that are well-utilized or optimally utilized, meaning they are filled between 70% and 100% of their capacity. The redistricting proposal would add an extra 13 schools that are well or optimally utilized.

What's Next

AACPS will host public briefings and the Board will conduct public hearings during September and October.

The school board is scheduled for a final vote on a redistricting plan at its Nov. 15 meeting. 

That plan would take effect for the school year beginning in August 2024. 

The second phase of redistricting focusing on South County will begin in February 2025. This will examine the high school boundaries for the Annapolis, Arundel, Broadneck, Crofton, Severna Park, South River and Southern clusters.

More information on the redistricting plan is posted at aacps.org/redistricting.

Patch contacted AACPS for a comment. We have not yet gotten a response. We will update this story if we hear back.

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