DillingerRAD has provided the district with an executive summary of the K-8 redistricting process and offered an interactive website and map to help visualize and summarize the key elements of the plan.
This interactive map allowed the community to better understand the proposed changes and engage more directly with the process. A set of community goals was established to guide the redistricting, focusing on optimizing APS school building utilization, maximizing transportation efficiency, and promoting healthy student experiences. The district followed a comprehensive timeline, offering multiple opportunities for community engagement, including surveys, public meetings, and forums. After carefully reviewing the feedback received, DillingerRAD made thoughtful adjustments to the proposed boundaries to ensure that the final plan reflected the concerns and ideas of the community.
The new district boundaries were voted on by the School Committee at the March 20, 2025 meeting. The approved redistricting plan will be implemented beginning in the 2026-27 school year. At the March 20th meeting, the Committee voted to support the first phase of an implementation strategy. This strategy would permit students starting Kindergarten in the fall of 2025 to enroll at the elementary school to which they will be zoned in fall 2026. This strategy would also provide for “legacy enrollment” for students who will be in 5th grade or 8th grade in the fall of 2026, so that they may complete their elementary or middle school career in their original school.
A second implementation phase concerning student placement for the fall of 2027 is expected to be discussed at the April 17 meeting. These implementation phases will be supplemented by events, programs, and other supports to help students make transitions, whether from an old school to a new school or from elementary to middle school. This allows the district sufficient time to operationally plan for the new school zones.
The district is dedicated to maintaining ongoing communication with the community as the implementation process progresses.
