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Schools reshuffle sophs
by Debra A. Golden, Wake Weekly Staff Writer
Think you know where your rising sophomore is going to school next fall?
Think again. The Wake County Board of Education recently reversed its decision to prohibit reassigned rising sophomores from transferring back to their current school, a process known as grandfathering. The option is currently available for juniors and seniors being reassigned to existing schools. Earlier this month, the school board ruled that sophomores reassigned to an existing high school can apply to stay at their current school, but they have to provide their own transportation to and from school. Students reassigned to the two new high schools in the western part of the county won't be allowed that option, because those schools must be populated. While the transfer option allows more sophomores throughout the county to stay at their current schools, it could also mean other Wake Forest-Rolesville High School students may be reassigned. Wake's 2005-06 reassignment proposal, released in December, calls for sending nearly 600 WF-R High School students to other schools. The reassignment is part of a larger proposal affecting all of Wake County. The county's largest reassignment proposal ever would move nearly 11,000 students to fill five new elementary schools and two new high schools. The shift comes because the empty spaces created by sending students to the new schools must be filled by other students in existing schools. By backfilling each school, including WF-R, every high school in the county would be affected. School officials expect about 50 percent of sophomores to take advantage of the option and stay at their current school. Originally, about 195 sophomores headed to WF-R would have been reassigned to either Knightdale or Wakefield High schools. But, knowing about half the reassigned sophomores at WF-R could opt to stay, school officials expect they will have to increase the number of students they will reassign from that school. WF-R is overcrowded, and becoming moreso everyday. Next year's reassignment proposal is designed, in part, to help ease overcrowding. The school currently houses about 2,025 students. Next fall's projected enrollment -- without reassignment -- is expected to be nearly 2,400. The school -- including its mobile units -- has a capacity to serve less than 1,800. More details about reassignment affecting WF-R High School are not currently available. Officials are still hammering out the countywide proposal, said school system spokesperson Bill Poston. The reversal of the grandfathering policy was in response to comments from parents after the preliminary proposal was released. The formal reassignment proposal will be presented to the school board on Feb. 14. WF-R parents should be able to find out then if additional sophomores are slated to be reassigned. Public hearings will follow in March, including one scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 6, at Wakefield High School. The school board could vote on the reassignment proposal as early as March 21.
Last Updated On: January 26, 2006
Copyright 2006 The Wake Weekly