September 30, 2022
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org
UPPER MARLBORO, MD — Today, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) released the consultant team’s final recommended changes for the Comprehensive School Boundary Initiative, launched in late 2020 to plan for future enrollment growth.
The recommended shifts will create boundaries for the middle schools under construction; allow the school system to increase prekindergarten openings; and align the sixth grade with middle schools.
Chief Executive Officer Dr. Monica Goldson will review the recommendations and provide opportunities for community input before making a final decision. Public hearings will be held virtually on Thursday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 25 at 6 p.m.
“Knowing the impact of school boundary changes on students and families, I will be thoughtful and equitable in making final determinations,” said Dr. Goldson. “Every child deserves to learn, work and play in the best environment possible. This work will ultimately create a stronger PGCPS by expanding program offerings, balancing enrollment and offering more students access to modernized facilities.”
The Comprehensive School Boundary Initiative is aimed at providing an impartial analysis of current school boundaries, feeder patterns and program locations to develop potential adjustments for new and expanded school facilities, and balance facility utilization system-wide. This is the school system’s first boundary analysis since 2008. In 2019, the Prince George’s County Board of Education requested an impartial analysis of strategies to reduce overcrowding and expand seats through the Blueprint Schools Program. Consultants WXY and Public Engagement Associates were hired to facilitate the analysis and community input alongside the PGCPS Boundary Advisory Committee.
The final recommendations were originally slated for Board consideration and approval in spring 2022. However, due to Board vacancies, the timeline was moved to this fall.
During the 10 community meetings held since 2021, three key themes emerged: aging and substandard school facilities, impacts of overcrowding/overutilization, and specialty programs access and equity. As a result, the recommendations prioritize addressing overutilization to help reduce the number of temporary classrooms across the school system and consolidating a small number of schools as needed.
Most changes would impact severe overcrowding in the northern part of the county. The Comprehensive School Boundary Initiative included 165 neighborhood schools. Specialty schools, regional schools, charter schools and special education centers were excluded; high school boundary changes were not in the consultant’s recommendations.
Dr. Goldson will present the consultant’s recommendations to the Board of Education on Thursday, October 13. The Boundary Initiative will conclude with the CEO’s recommendation to the Board of Education on Thursday, November 10.
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