Recently, a number of people have raised the issue of elementary schools as something that they would like to learn more about and possibly get more involved in.
Seattle Public Schools currently assigns students to elementary schools by a process that actually allows for some choice. Current school assignment rules are here. Most likely, starting for the 2011 -2012 school year, these rules will change significantly. The rules will change so that families have less choice and students will be much more likely to attend their “reference” or “neighborhood” school. Those looking to make this change believe that requiring students to attend their “reference” school will have positive impacts in that it will: reduce transportation costs (and carbon footprint), encourage healthy activity through walking to school, and build neighborhood communities as families who live near each other and have children of similar ages get to know each other better. Here is a recent document regarding the proposed new assignment plan. The Seattle Public Schools website also has additional information on the proposed new school assignment plan here.
Pinehurst does not have one neighborhood school, but instead has three reference schools and one alternative school (Olympic Hills, Northgate Elementary, Sacajawea and Pinehurst/AS #1) that children could be assigned to. Here are some links to information on tests score and other statistics for these and other Seattle schools:
Seattle Public Schools test scores and other statistical information (including demographics)
Seattle Times School Guide
A change in the school assignment policy could be a great thing for building community in Pinehurst. However, to those I have spoken with, there is concern that the current neighborhood schools have issues such as the physical conditions of the schools and lack of safe walking routes to schools (a bigger concern under the new plan in which most students will be required to walk to school) that need to be addressed.
If you are interested in this issue and want to know more or get involved (or take the lead!), please let me know.
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