FY2022-FY2027 Adopted Capital Improvement Program

FY2022 Adopted Budget Capital Improvement Program

Board of Education As a target for planning, the FCPS has established that the school system should ultimately operate at a capacity below 100% at each level. The purpose would be to decrease the number of schools that are more than 100% capacity and create enough flexibility to more effectively respond to instructional program needs and enrollment growth. The Board of Education (BOE) has accepted a target goal of 90% capacity at each level. The Frederick County Comprehensive Plan also includes a policy, which states that the County should maintain a system wide enrollment capacity of 90% at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

As shown in the table, the increase in students over the next seven years will be approximately 5,383. This large increase is due to the decrease in enrollment in Sep 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic but enrollment is expected to return to normal for Sep 2021. In an attempt to meet the overall additional enrollment and current capacity issues in certain areas, funding is provided for the construction of six projects through FY 2027. These projects will increase elementary school seating by 1,722, middle school seating by 300, and zero to high school seating (School Capacity Project table). System wide there is currently 864 elementary seats at an excess of enrollment at the overall level but there are still 9 elementary schools at or over 100% of capacity. The capacity rate of schools decreased from last year from 104% to 96%. Due to enrollment numbers in Sep. 2020 effected by the COVID 19 pandemic and with the projects currently in the CIP, the 2027 overall enrollment/capacity rate at the elementary school level is projected to increase from the current level of 96% to 99%. Currently Waverley ES is being constructed that will add approximately 664 new seats. Four more schools which are all listed as addition/replacement are scheduled to receive construction funding in this CIP. This will add 1,058 additional seats.

Current and Projected Enrollment Growth September 2020 2027

Total Change Per Year

Pre K 12 Total

Elementary Middle

High

Sep. 2020* 18,992 10,287 13,452 42,731 Sep. 2021 20,279 10,433 13,984 44,696 1,965 Sep. 2022 20,450 10,620 14,328 45,398 702 Sep. 2023 20,621 10,724 14,605 45,950 552 Sep. 2024 20,862 11,015 14,787 46,664 714 Sep. 2025 20,881 11,221 14,955 47,057 393 Sep. 2026 21,161 11,306 15,101 47,568 511 Sep. 2027 21,321 11,384 15,409 48,114 546

Total Increase

2,329

1,097 1,957 5,383

*Decrease in Enrollment due to COVID 19 pandemic but anticipate 2021 retruning to normal

Enrollments are equated enrollment

At the middle school level, there is a projected increase of approximately 1,097 students. Currently, there are five middle schools at or over 100% of capacity and system wide there is a current excess of 2,311 seats. The overall middle school enrollment/capacity rate is projected to increase from the present 84% to 88%. The high school level is projected to increase by approximately 1,957 students over the seven year period. Currently, there are two high schools at or over 100% of capacity. System wide there is a deficit of 421 seats. The overall enrollment/capacity rate at the high school level will increase from the current level of 92% to 105%. Enrollments do not include students enrolled at Success Program, Heather Ridge, Rock Creek or Frederick County Virtual School. Data obtained from the Superintendent's Recommended Draft Educational Facilities Master Plan Annual Update May 2021

Urbana Elementary School completed and opened in the Summer 2020

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