FY2024-FY2029 Adopted Capital Improvement Program

FY2024 Adopted Budget Capital Improvement Program

Board of Education At the middle school level, there is a projected increase of approximately 1,431 students. Currently, there is one middle schools at or over 100% of capacity and system-wide there is a current excess of 1,229 seats. The overall middle school enrollment/capacity rate is projected to increase from the present 89% to 91%. A designed 300-seat addition to Crestwood Middle will get construction funding in FY24, with anticipated opening in August 2024. The additional capacity will help balance enrollments at several middle schools in the Frederick City and surrounding areas through an extensive redistricting effort currently underway.

Crestwood Middle School, photo courtesy of FCPS

The high school level is projected to increase by approximately 1,320 students over the seven-year period. Currently, there are four high schools at or over 100% of capacity. System-wide there is a deficit of 887 seats. The overall enrollment/capacity rate at the high school level will increase from the current level of 104% to 106%. Although two high school replacement projects are in the ten-year planning period, neither of these projects will add capacity. Efforts are underway to identify and procure land, on which to construct a new high school in the next ten years or so. In addition to capacity needs, the Board of Education continues to maintain older schools and assess schools in need of renovation, taking into account the age and facility conditions of the facility. The Board strives to balance the need for new seats with renovation of older schools to ensure equity of facilities for all school communities. The goal is to renovate schools at approximately 35 years of age and to replace schools at 70 years of age. Renovation projects are now listed as Limited Renovations Projects. The first two projects were identified as the Thurmont Elementary School and Monocacy Elementary School, and these projects will be completed in FY24. The priority listing is arranged by level and is included in the Educational Facilities Master Plan. Using the priority listing prepared by the Board, additional projects will be added as funding permits in the future. Frederick County received approximately $90M in Built to Learn funding from the State. This funding went to fund the State share of the Waverley ES, Brunswick ES, Green Valley ES, and Valley ES projects, and therefore advanced the repayment of County forward funding or accelerated the timeline of these projects.

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