A Path to a Crofton High School
A top school official said he envisions a scenario under which a new high school in Crofton will be needed sooner rather than later.
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Crofton won't be getting a new high school tomorrow, but signs indicate it could get one eventually, a top school official said this week.
Overcrowded schools in Crofton have led to a new effort to redistrict the area, sparking resumed discussion of whether the community should have a high school of its own. Currently, students from Crofton are split between Arundel High and South River High.
Chuck Yocum, a specialist in demographics planning for Anne Arundel County Schools (AACPS), said there's not enough overcrowding in Crofton to justify a new high school just yet. But he offered a scenario under which overcrowding elsewhere—specifically, the most western portion of Anne Arundel County—could result in a new school constructed in Crofton.
Projected enrollment numbers from AACPS show that by 2017, Arundel High School will be at 98 percent capacity, while South River High School will be at 106 percent capacity. That represents roughly 100 excess students, which Yocum said hardly justifies a new high school.
But, he pointed to three things that could tip things higher:
- The development known as Two Rivers, which could come under construction as soon as 2015 at the south end of Odenton and Gambrills. It would bring more than 2,000 homes to the Crofton area.
- Another possible housing development nearby could also add 800 homes.
- Population pressure in the Laurel area, which could force the school system to look toward east for capacity. Meade High School, which serves most of Laurel as well as the Seven Oaks section of Odenton, is currently closed to new students. But big housing projects in Laurel, including Arundel Gateway, are on their way.
Yocum said he envisioned a scenario in which the school system redistricts to push more students from the west into Arundel High, thus placing that school over capacity. Additional population growth in south county would also add students at South River, he said. In theory, all of these factors could result in a surplus of more than 1,000 students—perhaps enough to justify a request for a new high school, he said.
"It's not the situation right now, but we're very close to being able to make a case," Yocum said.
A new high school would likely necessitate approval for financing from the state. Cost estimates for a new high school have topped $100 million.
Currently, a redistricting committee is exploring options for reducing overcrowding at Nantucket Elementary. Yocum told the group Monday that it can request a new high school as an addendum to its redistricting plan. (This prompted applause from the audience of Crofton parents.)
"If it's put into a recommendation, I think the superintendent and the board would look at that very carefully," he said.
Joe Robinson
9:10 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I will believe it when I see it. We bought in Crofton in 1993 because they were going to be 'building a new elementary school right across the street'. 16 years later and 7 years after we moved into the triangle, Nantucket Elementary opened. They have been talking about a 13th high school in the county since then also.
Crofton Dude
10:10 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Crofton getting a high school.
Yeah---right.
LOL
K D Gross
11:06 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
When we moved to the triangle in 1968 there was a proposed Crofton HS on the map in the builder's office. We assumed our yet-to-be-born children would go there. Now our grandchildren are too old to go there and Crofton kids are still being bussed all over. The BOE planning process is seriously flawed.
John Galt
1:45 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I find it bittersweet to read or hear about the notion of a Crofton Area High School. The lack of candor, initiative and responsiveness from AACPS and (not all but) many of the staff at our children's schools over the past has grown to such an extent that we've grown hopeless. So many exchanges with and observations of those 'county employees' have made me realize that they never did or have long since forgotten that they are civil servants charged with providing a public service of the highest order. In sum, that is precisely why there will never be a Crofton-Gambrills Area High School. Whether or not such a school is warranted has nothing to do with Mr. Yocum's numbers, which, by the way, can be manipulated to defend any pro or con hypothesis. Rather, it has everything to do with politics and the sad reality that so very many at AACPS are content to contribute the league minimum of their time, effort and attention. Shame on you, MISTER Maxwell.
Papa Starfish
12:24 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Blaming school-based personnel seems to be a bit misguided, don't you think? Teachers and support staff have very little to do with the planning and construction of a high school.
Tom
3:42 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The fact that we have to have charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling should be a testament in itself that the public school system doesn't serve its purpose. Would the public school system please educate our children so we don't have to pay private/charter school tuition or put in the time at home to do the public school systems job!
Chris W
6:29 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
It does not makes sense to build a new high school in Crofton when the numbers do not support it. They would be better off increasing the capacity at existing schools.
Arundel is a good school, and south river is not that far. I had to travel around the same distance 30 years ago. It's not a big deal.
EA
9:59 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
I think that Seven Oaks should be included in any redistricted plans involving either Arundel or Crofton high schools. A middle school should also be in order to combine all of Odenton and Crofton.
Judy
12:34 am on Friday, September 28, 2012
We moved to Crofton in 1996, when my kids were toddlers,a 13th high school was in the works then. I joined the committee's, went to BOE meetings and nothing ever happened. My kids graduated from Arundel, their friends from South River, and Crofton still doesn't have a high school to unite the community.
Papa Starfish
12:27 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Interesting, it looks I shouldn't get too excited about a new high school.