Since the formation of North Hills School District, our
student population has ebbed and flowed. These substantial increases and
decreases have been addressed in numerous ways over the past few decades
including the construction, closure and renovation of district buildings,
redistricting of neighborhoods and the reconfiguration of grade-levels in
specific buildings.Our elementary student population climbed to 2,546 students
for the 2018-19 school year, and the populations has reached the highest
elementary enrollment number since the 1997-98 school year. This school
year, two elementary buildings are operating at greater than 98% capacity
and a third is operating at 93% capacity.
District officials have been aware of this expected growth in our elementary student population and based on a demographer’s estimate, North Hills’ enrollment is projected to grow through 2025. Over the past few years, NHSD experienced a higher growth rate than anticipated and has addressed this growth in numerous ways including redistricting elementary borders for the 2016-17 school year, constructing a two-story addition at McIntyre Elementary in 2017-18 and relocating special education programs to different elementary buildings.
NHSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino researched seven possible options and their feasibility to address the district's increasing elementary enrollment. Dr. Mannarino detailed these options at a Nov. 8 Board of Education meeting.
Dr. Mannarino presented an in-depth and detailed report and analysis on moving Grade 6 to North Hills Middle School in the 2020-21 school year at the Jan. 24 Board of Education meeting. The report included information on space and capacity, curriculum and scheduling, staffing, time and transportation, budget and finance, implementation timeline options and elementary operations impact.
At the Feb. 21, 2019, school board meeting, board members approved a resolution establishing North Hills Middle School as a Grade 6-8 building starting in the 2020-21 school year. Starting in the 2020-21 school year, all sixth-grade students will attend classes at North Hills Middle School. We are aware that this is a vital transition and important time for our students, and we will communicate plans, activities and events designed to help our students and their families with this transition throughout the 2019-20 school year.
All videos, presentations and materials from all related meetings are posted below.