Wm. S. Hart Union High School District
SUPERINTENDENT’S
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES
Adopted by the
Governing Board February 26, 2003
MISSION STATEMENT: The Mission of the Committee is to establish school attendance boundaries which will result in equally strong junior and senior high schools across the Hart School District.
In order to accomplish this mission, the following criteria established by the Governing Board were considered:
· Integrity of neighborhoods and elementary school attendance areas where possible
· Junior/senior high clusters
· Socioeconomic balance
· Designed school capacities
· Travel ease and safety
· Transportation costs
BACKGROUND: The committee consists of 10 parents—two each from the current junior high school attendance areas, plus Castaic—and five administrators, who represent both junior and senior high schools across the district. Resource providers include Richard Freifeld, director of student services; Pat Willett, community liaison officer; Dick Recht and Russ Cunningham, consultants with Schoolhouse Services; and Gary Smith, coordinator of transportation.
Committee members were selected to provide representation to all areas of the district in the decision-making process and were encouraged to go back to their constituencies regularly for input on boundary scenarios as they were developed. All committee meetings were open to the public, and a place on the agenda was set aside for public comments. A list of more than 100 stakeholders was developed, including elementary districts, business and community leaders, and elected officials, and they have received summaries of committee meeting notes as well as information on upcoming community meetings.
The committee has been meeting twice monthly since October, working with maps provided by Schoolhouse Services which divide the Hart District into “study areas” for which enrollment data are available. That method allowed the committee to review the effects of each of its recommendations on such issues as current school population, projected school populations through 2008, and socioeconomic balance. Subcommittees then did field research by driving boundary areas to compare actual neighborhoods and topography with the maps. These on-site field trips reassured the committee that its data-driven preliminary boundaries are aligned with such natural barriers as ridgelines, rivers, freeways and major roads, and that boundaries reflect neighborhoods.
Preliminary boundary recommendations were presented to the District Governing Board in January and presented at a number of community meetings to facilitate widespread input. Those meetings were held according to the following schedule:
·
Parents of
English Language Learners – Jan. 16, Placerita Junior High, Tanner Hall
·
Newhall/Valencia/Stevenson
Ranch Area – Jan. 21, Placerita Junior High, Tanner Hall
·
Saugus/North
Valencia Area – Jan. 23, Saugus High School, J Lecture Hall
·
Canyon
Country/Sand Canyon Area – Jan. 28, Sierra Vista Junior High, MPR
·
Castaic/Val
Verde Area – Feb. 6, Castaic Middle School, Multipurpose Room.
Community participants were encouraged to submit their issues in written format, along with the rationale for any changes they were suggesting. That community input, including opinions expressed by individual committee members, was considered by the committee at a Jan. 30 meeting, when the committee drafted its final recommendations for the Governing Board. All written input is included as an appendix to the final report so the Governing Board can see all the issues taken into the consideration by the committee when drafting its final recommendation.
The following data-driven boundary scenarios assume that boundaries will take effect as each new school opens. In some instances, the committee also has issued recommendations for interim measures designed to relieve overcrowding at existing schools until future schools open. In each case, such interim recommendations are designed to avoid moving neighborhoods to a new junior or senior high school more than once during the transition period.
The committee also determined that junior and senior high school boundaries should be congruent as new schools are built.
Rio Norte Junior High/Valencia High School: The suggested attendance area is generally the McBean/San Francisquito corridor north of the Santa Clara River. Feeder schools would include North Park, Charles Helmers and Mountain View schools, portions of Bridgeport School north of the Santa Clara River and the new neighborhoods of Estrella Vista and Canyon Ridge which currently attend Emblem School on “overflow” from Mountain View.
Bounded on the south by the Santa Clara River.
Bounded on the west by Interstate 5 from the Santa Clara River to the Castaic District boundary south of State Highway 126, and then by the boundaries of the Castaic Union School District.
Bounded on the north by the Hart District boundaries.
Boundaries on the east are shared with Arroyo Seco/Saugus. The boundary follows Bouquet Canyon Road north from the Santa Clara River through mostly commercial areas, then follows the current boundaries of Charles Helmers and North Park elementary schools northward to Copper Hill Drive. At Copper Hill, the boundary swings east along the current boundaries of Mountain View Elementary School, extending northward to the Hart District boundaries along the current northernmost extension of the North Park attendance area.
Rationale: This preliminary scenario follows neighborhood and elementary school attendance lines, using geographical barriers and major roads as boundaries where possible. It helps relieve overcrowding at Arroyo Seco, while allowing room for the extensive growth expected in this area in coming years. Students assigned to Bridgeport Elementary School between Valencia Boulevard and the Santa Clara River are within walking distance to Rancho Pico/West Ranch schools, but would require bus transportation to Rio Norte Junior High School.
Arroyo Seco Junior High/Saugus High School: The suggested attendance area is generally the Seco Canyon corridor up to Copperhill Drive, the North Valencia and Bouquet Canyon corridor north of the Santa Clara River, including the Plum Canyon area. Feeder schools would include the current boundaries of Santa Clarita, Plum Canyon, Bouquet Canyon, Highlands, James Foster and Rosedell elementary schools and most of Emblem School, except for “overflow” Mountain View students from the Vista Estrella and Canyon Ridge neighborhoods.
Bounded on the south by the Santa Clara River except for an area along Bouquet Canyon Road which includes a small number of students from an apartment complex behind IHOP Restaurant.
Bounded on the west by shared boundaries with Rio Norte/Valencia. This boundary follows current boundaries of the Santa Clarita and James Foster schools to Copper Hill Road, then moves eastward along the current boundaries of Emblem School (not including Mountain View “overflow”) and joins the northernmost boundaries of Plum Canyon School.
Bounded on the north by the Hart District boundaries.
Bounded on the east by the eastern boundaries of Emblem and Plum Canyon schools and the western and northern boundary of Sky Blue Mesa Elementary.
Rationale: Follows neighborhood and elementary school boundaries, and geographical orientation of communities. Reduced student population should help accommodate future modernization construction projects.
Sierra Vista Junior High/Canyon High School: These schools’ recommended attendance area consists generally of the core of Canyon Country north of Soledad Canyon road and west of Sierra Highway, then including the Highway 14 corridor following the current attendance boundaries for Mitchell, Pinetree and Sulphur Springs schools. This attendance area includes two distinct areas: The core area of Canyon Country and an area of eastern Canyon Country including Sand Canyon. Feeder schools would include Sky Blue Mesa, Cedarcreek, Leona Cox, Mitchell, Pinetree and Sulphur Springs. The area also includes the Canyon Springs attendance area north of Soledad Canyon Road.
To avoid confusion, boundaries will be described separately for each of the two areas.
Bounded on the south by the Santa Clara River, then Soledad Canyon Road where the river moves south of the road.
Bounded on the west by the ridgeline separating Canyon Country from Bouquet Canyon, basically the attendance boundaries of Skyblue Mesa Elementary.
Bounded on the north by the current attendance boundaries of Plum Canyon and Skyblue Mesa School.
Bounded on the east by the Leona Cox/Mint Canyon Elementary School attendance boundary.
Bounded on the south by the Hart District’s southern boundary.
Bounded on the west by the ridgeline between Fair Oaks Ranch and Sand Canyon as far as Soledad Canyon Road, where it jogs west to follow the boundaries of Mitchell School.
Bounded on the north by the boundaries of Mitchell and Pinetree schools.
Bounded on the east by the Hart District boundaries.
Rationale: Generally follows neighborhood and elementary school attendance areas. Continued inclusion of eastern Canyon Country ensures socioeconomic balance necessary to maintain the committee’s mission of creating equally strong schools across the district. Boundaries are aligned to transportation corridors for ease of access to assigned schools. Both Sierra Vista and Canyon should remain relatively stable after these boundaries are established since there is little room for new growth within the attendance boundaries in the near future. Reduced student population should help accommodate future modernization construction projects.
La Mesa Junior High/Golden Valley High School: This recommended attendance area generally includes the corridor along the Santa Clara River from just east of Bouquet Junction. It includes all of Canyon Country south of the river and Soledad Canyon Road from just east of Bouquet Junction to the Sand Canyon Ridgeline, including Fair Oaks Ranch and Placerita Canyon east of Sierra Highway. Also includes the areas along San Fernando Road from the junction of Sierra Highway to Race Street in East Newhall (the Valle del Oro, Dockweiler, Meadowridge areas). Also includes all of the current Mint Canyon School attendance area on North Sierra Highway. Feeder schools include Mint Canyon, Fair Oaks Ranch, Rio Vista, Valley View, Canyon Springs School south of Soledad Canyon Road, some portions of South Newhall currently attending Old Orchard School, Wiley Canyon and Peachland Schools, most of McGrath School, and the future Golden Valley Elementary.
Bounded on the south by the southern edge of the Hart District.
Bounded on the southwest by the ridge separating San Fernando Road from Wildwood Canyon, then eastward at Race Street to include the Valle del Oro/Dockweiler area along the ridgeline south of Placerita Canyon. Excludes Placerita Canyon and Circle J, following along the boundary between the Newhall and Saugus Union school districts behind the Soledad Canyon Metrolink Station.
Bounded on the north by the Santa Clara River from just east of Bouquet Canyon until the river crosses under Soledad Canyon Rd., then by Soledad Canyon until it reaches the Sulphur Springs Elementary School boundary. The northern part of this attendance area coincides with current boundaries of Mint Canyon Elementary School.
Bounded on the east by the ridge between Fair Oaks Ranch and Sand Canyon.
Rationale: Maintains the integrity of neighborhoods and school attendance areas where possible. Areas of Mint Canyon and southern San Fernando Road are included to balance both the size and socioeconomic levels of the school population. Both areas have access to La Mesa/Golden Valley via Sierra Highway, a major transportation artery. Although La Mesa remains the largest school in the district for 2003, it drops to one of the lowest when the Valencia Summit and Granary Square areas return to Placerita in 2004 with the opening of Rancho Pico. That will provide some room for the extensive growth that is coming in Fair Oaks Ranch, Golden Valley Ranch and up Mint Canyon, which will return La Mesa to the largest junior high in the district by 2008.
Transition Issue: It is recommended that the Valencia Summit and Granary Square areas of south Valencia remain at La Mesa for one additional year until the opening of Rancho Pico Junior High provides some overcrowding relief to Placerita Junior High. Those areas would then be assigned to Placerita/Hart.
Placerita Junior High/Hart High School: The proposed attendance area is generally all of Newhall except the area on San Fernando Road south of Race Street, and a corridor along I-5 south of Lyons Avenue. It also includes all of Valencia south of Valencia Boulevard, plus Placerita Canyon west of Sierra Highway and Circle J. Feeder schools include Newhall, Old Orchard, Wiley Canyon north of Lyons Avenue (new NSD boundaries), Peachland, Meadows and Valencia Valley schools, and portions of McGrath Elementary north of Race Street.
Bounded on the south by the southern ridge of Placerita Canyon west of Highway 14, and Newhall Pass, except for the San Fernando Road corridor south of Race Street.
Bounded on the west by Interstate 5, except for a corridor south of Lyons Avenue (the southern Wiley Canyon corridor) which has its primary access via Interstate 5. The Calgrove area and that portion of the Hidden Valley area assigned to Wiley Canyon Elementary School under its proposed 2003 attendance boundaries will be assigned to Rancho Pico/West Ranch; students in the Hidden Valley area assigned to Peachland School (2003 NSD boundaries) will attend Placerita/Hart.
Bounded on the north by Valencia Boulevard to Magic Mountain Parkway, then eastward to San Fernando Road, and following the boundary of the Newhall District east along the ridgeline north of Circle J Ranch.
Boundaries on the east follow the Newhall Elementary School boundaries east of Circle J, then along Sierra Highway south to Newhall Pass, excluding the San Fernando road corridor south of Race Street and Dockweiler/Valle del Oro areas. The boundary south of Lyons Avenue will be Wiley Creek.
Rationale: This preliminary scenario provides some relief to Placerita and Hart by keeping portions of Valencia at La Mesa for one more year. It also improves the socioeconomic balance within the district by assigning the south part of San Fernando Road to La Mesa/Golden Valley and the Wiley Canyon corridor south of Lyons Avenue to Rancho Pico/West Ranch. Both Hart and Placerita should remain relatively stable after these boundaries are established since there is little room for new growth within the attendance boundaries in the near future.
Transition Issue: It is recommended that the Valencia Summit and Granary Square areas of south Valencia remain at La Mesa for one additional year until the opening of Rancho Pico Junior High provides some overcrowding relief to Placerita Junior High
Rancho Pico Junior High/West Ranch High School: This is generally the area west of Interstate 5 and south of the Castaic Union School District boundary (the Santa Clara River), except for a corridor east of I-5 south of Lyons Avenue (south Wiley Canyon), which includes Calgrove and that portion of the Hidden Valley area which will be assigned to Wiley Canyon School under the Newhall District’s new boundary scenario, and an area between Valencia Blvd. and the Santa Clara River. Feeder schools include Stevenson Ranch, Pico Canyon, Westridge schools, the portion of Wiley Canyon Elementary south of Lyons Avenue, and the portion of Bridgeport Elementary between Valencia Boulevard and the Santa Clara River. Also includes Castaic Middle School students at West Ranch High School until a high school is built in Castaic.
Bounded on the south and west by the boundaries of the Hart School District and the north by the Santa Clara River.
Bounded on the east by Interstate 5 between Valencia Boulevard and Lyons Avenue, where it extends east to include the Calgrove area and that portion of the Hidden Valley area which attends Wiley Canyon Elementary School. (The portion of the Wiley Canyon Elementary School south of Lyons Avenue.) Neighborhoods along Wiley Canyon (Atwood Addition) will be bounded by Wiley Creek. North of Valencia Boulevard, and boundary swings east to McBean Parkway to include The Woodlands and new neighborhoods along Magic Mountain parkway.
Rationale: Follows natural dividing line (I-5 and the Santa Clara River). Also includes for the Wiley Canyon/Calgrove corridor, which was added to this area 1) because access is available only via Interstate 5 or Wiley Canyon, 2) to increase student population at Rancho Pico and West Ranch, and 3) to improve socioeconomic balance. Those areas’ natural access is to the west, making this school assignment a realistic choice. The area between Valencia Boulevard, Interstate 5, Santa Clara River and McBean Parkway (The Woodlands and new homes along Magic Mountain parkway) are included because of their proximity to Rancho Pico/West Ranch and their distance to Rio Norte Junior High. Inclusion of other Valencia neighborhoods north of Lyons Avenue and south of Valencia Boulevard would disrupt the socioeconomic balance at Placerita and Hart. Student population is light when the schools open, allowing room for expected growth west of I-5. Addition of Castaic students at West Ranch High School will provide both student population and socioeconomic balance, while helping to reduce severe overcrowding at Valencia High School.
Castaic High School: It is suggested that its boundaries follows boundaries of the Castaic Union School District. Feeder school is Castaic Middle School.
Rationale: It makes sense to follow the boundaries of the Castaic School District to maintain the correspondence between junior and senior high schools. It will also facilitate transition if at some time in the future the Castaic District chooses to become a unified district. Interim assignment of Castaic students to West Ranch will help with both population and socioeconomic balance and help to relieve severe overcrowding at Valencia High School.
Transition Issue: It is recommended that the majority of incoming students from Castaic Middle School be assigned to West Ranch High School until a high school can be built in Castaic. It is also suggested that this population be phased into West Ranch, with Castaic students already attending Valencia High School, and their siblings, allowed at their option to continue there. New classes would be assigned to West Ranch as they reach ninth grade, thereby reducing severe overcrowding at Valencia High School.
PRESENTATION OF FINAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Following presentation of its Preliminary Report as an information item to the Hart District Governing Board on January 15 and to the community in the following weeks, the committee has drafted this, its final recommendation. A few minor revisions have been made between the February 12 presentation to the Governing Board and the Board action item on the February 26 agenda. These minor corrections are detailed in the accompanying Addendum sheet. The committee has developed a single recommendation by consensus, but all written alternatives and suggestions were included in an appendix to the final report so the Governing Board could see all of the issues considered by the committee in reaching its decision. All items listed in the Appendix also are available for public review at the District Administrative Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This committee, while representing all geographical areas of the district, has pledged to keep in focus the overriding needs of the district as a whole. Its Final Report and Recommendations have been drafted with this primary consideration in mind.
Adopted by the Governing Board of the
William S. Hart Union High School District
February 26, 2003