This is from Warren County Public Schools website on redistricting FAQ page:

 

Will this affect students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels?

 

The immediate, primary focus is the enrollment numbers at the elementary school level. Although this does not necessarily mean that the middle and high school lines will not be affected, there is not a strong desire by the Board of Education to adjust the middle and high school lines at this time.

 

This is from WBKO web page after community meetings:

 

“So the question is, how will it affect our kids? Clayton said the committee is still gathering data on growth in the county, but on the early end, it looks like high schools may not be affected.”

"Looking at existing lines, they have to be redrawn. That would require some neighborhoods to switch particular schools they feed into. We're hopeful that with these changes, that it would only impact the elementary schools at this point in time. Until all the information is brought together it's difficult to predict what the final outcome will be."

 

From KDE School Report Card:

South Warren High School

Warren County

School Membership: 1,077

Grade Range: 9th-12th

Status: Not a Title 1 School School Year: 2014-15

School Code: 571003

Classification: A1

Principal: Jenny Hester

 

Warren Central High School

Warren County

School Membership: 1,018

Grade Range: 9th-12th

Status: Title 1 Eligible - No Program School Year: 2014-15

School Code: 571210

Classification: A1

Principal: Mike Stevenson

 

Greenwood High School

Warren County

School Membership: 1,180

Grade Range: 9th-12th

Status: Title 1 Eligible - No Program School Year: 2014-15

School Code: 571230

Classification: A1

Principal: Gregory Dunn

 

Just FYI Regardless of what happens with the redistricting there is no way South will drop back to a 3A school IMO.

 

At the meeting I went to they gave approximate numbers for High school enrollment as Greenwood 1,225, South 1,100, Warren Central at just over 1,000 and Warren East around 900. They emphasized that their concern was not at High School and Middle School rather at about 5 elementary schools that are over crowded and around 4 that were under enrollment capacity.

 

I am sure DF may have some more hard numbers but this is what they gave us at the meeting.

 

As of September 10th when I requested the records, Greenwood has 1,255, South Warren has 1,174, and Warren Central has 1,062. Warren East will likely never fluctuate too greatly, but they currently sit at 928.

 

As for the FAQ, the elementary schools are their focus, but it is nigh impossible to redraw those lines without touching on the middle/high school lines as well. You could shift some Jody Richards kids to Rich Pond (which, let's be honest, they obviously should - they messed up that redistricting as bad as any when they decided maybe it was a good idea for Rich Pond to operate at 50% capacity while Jody Richards quickly burst at the seams), Plano kids to Rich Pond, etc., but it's extremely likely there will be effects on the high school lines. Look no further than the committee's statement that one of the few things they'd already agreed on was that they should no longer split up elementary populations when they move on to middle school and high school. Considering we have two major splits and one minor, that alone tells you they're looking at line changes that will affect above the elementary level. I'm sure you know this by now, but it's quite common for the county to make a statement that is utterly at odds with other statements they've made and/or actions they make.

 

If they do not make changes at the high school level, then you can expect that South Warren will continue rapid, unchecked growth that will quickly take them beyond their capacity - they're basically there. South Warren opened with 763 students. By year 3 they were at 1,007. After a somewhat inexplicable drop their fourth year, they grew by 112 students in a single year alone, and now jumped 80 more from that one. Even if i throw out the first two years, and include one that was actually negative growth, South Warren is growing by an average of 56 students per year. And those are generous terms - that one year of downturn is the only time they've grown by less than 80 students. Their total average growth is 82.4 students per year. At that rate, they'd have 1,500 students in four years. In terms of single year enrollments, that'd be 6A-sized (they wouldn't be based on a 4 year average). Considering that there are so many real estate projects in their area, that's actually probably a conservative growth projection based on the current areas.

 

You can expect that Greenwood will also continue to be overcrowded - the only reason South Warren exists in the first place is because they were supposed to bring lasting change to that. It was estimated that Greenwood needed to drop at least 40% of their then-1,715 number to bring that lasting change. It was around 35% that they'd dropped by the second year of South Warren, and since then they have grown by a rate of 40 students per year. And in the last two years they've jumped by 61 and 74 students, which shows that that growth is accelerating.

 

Warren Central has recovered some enrollment by a huge jump from 2014 to 2015, when they gained 69 students. They gained 25 from last year as well, but otherwise had declined every year since South Warren had opened. Their current enrollment would still rank as the lowest in 17 years if not for the previous years since South Warren opened.

 

The point being, that even though Central has recovered some enrollment, they are not growing at a high rate, and remain unlikely to do so. Meanwhile, they are far outpaced by South Warren and Greenwood. If they do not/did not address the middle and high schools in this cycle, then by the time they decide to do something, both of those high schools will be way over capacity, and likely what you'd be hearing is that it was time for another high school to be built, which is almost always their solution since they never, ever, EVER consider that maybe they're building these too small. That is why I call bologna on the notion that the elementary schools will be the only ones affected at this time. It doesn't pass the smell test.

According to the KHSAA South Warren is well within 4A:

 

http://khsaa.org/football/realignment/20152018/ListingbyClassbyEnrollmentwithEnrollments.pdf

 

And welcome aboard!

 

By those numbers, they absolutely are in 4A. If it had been two year averages, they at least wouldn't have started there. And when you go by the last single year available on the KHSAA site (13/14), they are bigger than 9 schools that would have been slotted to 5A based on that year alone. They are easily the largest 4A school going by the reality of the school, rather than a 4 year average which accounted for years smaller than any they are likely to experience again without massive redistricting.

 

So it really just depends on how you look at it. But there is no denying that by the KHSAA criteria, they are 4A. Then again, the KHSAA deemed them 3A as well for four years, and that a consolidated Mercer County was 2A once upon a time.

DF I will agree I don't see how the high and middle schools can't be effected in some form or fashion but I'm not sure that it will be as drastic as some are thinking based on enrollment numbers at the schools.

 

My point was that I don't see that there is any way that any of those three schools will ever drop back to 3A. Even with redistricting.

Here is the issue no one is talking about: Warren County Schools now sees (probably still won't admit) that kids across the county are going to have to be "re-zoned" to Warren Central. The question now becomes, if "x" amount of South Warren kids are soon to be Warren Central kids could South Warren then become a 3A school.

 

I can assure you the Warren County Board already knows the "rezoning proposal." They know in order to get Warren Central back on the map academically they will have to pull several kids from nicer areas of town. Please know this is not a racial comment.

 

So, is there a chance in your opinion that in less than 2 school years from now the Spartans will be a 3A school? I think there is a good chance that happens.

 

South Warren will never be a 3A school again. No amount of proposed changes could make that happen. The top of the initial 3A proposal last alignment was an average of 403 males. In 13/14, South Warren had 564 by the KHSAA numbers. You're talking about a drop of about 30%. There's almost no way to make that happen. Even if they gave half of Plano back to Greenwood and took the rest of Rockfield back to Central I don't think you could see that large of a drop for the Spartans. There is no reason an established Warren County school should ever be 3A, and a new one should never be for more than one cycle. The city/county is simply too big for that to be.

 

I agree on much of the rest of what you say. I believe the county board does indeed know what they intend to do, regardless of what the boundary committee recommends. I've heard a lot of crazy suggestions, and I do believe most of them to be that - crazy. People who are literally across the street from South Warren are afraid of being moved. It's an absurd fear. Now, a mile away from South Warren..... that may not be as far fetched. I would certainly guess if you're at Rockfield Elementary when the dust settles, you'll be going to Warren Central (assuming, of course, that they bother to enforce the transfer rules - sorely lacking in enforcement most times). Some of the more interesting/logical suggestions I've heard:

 

-Redistrict some portions of Rockfield to Rich Pond to lessen the total amount going back from that area.

-Redistrict some of Jody Richards to Rich Pond. (Again, I cannot stress enough how ridiculously under populated Rich Pond is.)

-Redistrict all of Natcher to Warren Central.

-Redistrict Rockfield back to Warren Central, with the areas mentioned in the first part that went to Rich Pond remaining at South.

 

Another alternative I've heard:

-Pull some of Plano's existing base to Rich Pond, and push Plano back to Greenwood.

-Redistrict portions of Jody Richards to Natcher, and pull all of Natcher to South Warren.

-Redistrict all of Rockfield back to Warren Central.

 

I've also heard suggestions of moving both Rockfield and Natcher all the way over to Warren Central as-is, but I don't see how Central could actually hold all of that. They're not THAT small.

 

The really crazy theories, the ones that have people coming from way out Cemetery Road going to Warren Central (not even the ones that are, believe it or not, closer to Central than Greenwood, but ones WAY out there), or everyone to the Rockfield side of Nashville Road going to Warren Central, etc., those are not feasible, and they will not happen. If they did, then my already low opinion of the board would find new depths. It would basically be busing policies.

DF I will agree I don't see how the high and middle schools can't be effected in some form or fashion but I'm not sure that it will be as drastic as some are thinking based on enrollment numbers at the schools.

 

My point was that I don't see that there is any way that any of those three schools will ever drop back to 3A. Even with redistricting.

 

Yep, I agree, none of them will ever be 3A. I do disagree somewhat on that redistricting won't be somewhat drastic (though that really depends on what one considers drastic). There are issues that go far beyond raw enrollment numbers that needs to be addressed. And eventually, if the county refuses to address them - especially given that a huge part of the issue was created by them - then I think it will get addressed for them. One way or another. South may not ultimately change a whole lot in terms of raw numbers, but I think there will certainly be changes on the specific areas they're pulling from. And if the county really wants to fix the problem, they'll address the transfers as well. The 3% limit has been by and large totally ignored.

A couple of questions from someone outside of the area.

 

1. Has there been a large growth in the overall student census in the Warren County area, and if so what is fueling that. (Jobs,etc.)?

 

2. Will redistricting really change the strength of the programs much?

(I say this because no matter it seems athletes will end up where they desire to go)

Bowling Green's population has increased well over 50% in the past 25 years.

A couple of questions from someone outside of the area.

 

1. Has there been a large growth in the overall student census in the Warren County area, and if so what is fueling that. (Jobs,etc.)?

 

2. Will redistricting really change the strength of the programs much?

(I say this because no matter it seems athletes will end up where they desire to go)

 

Yes there has been growth in Bowling Green/Warren County area for the last several years. Multiple reasons are fueling the growth jobs and an influx of ESL students one teacher that I know stated that 15 to 20 years ago there were maybe 3 languages spoken now there are 15 plus or minus languages spoken in the schools.

 

My initial thoughts is no I don't think it will change the strength of the programs that much it will some and may make it a little more balanced but as you pointed out generally athletes find a way to play for where they want to play. As DF pointed out the only way to solve that is to enforce the 3% transfer rule between schools.

Actually SW does I force 3% rule .I know of three athletes that were not aloud to transfer to SW one finally got end the next year and is on the football team .If you know Mrs. Hester you know she is by the book .

Actually SW does I force 3% rule .I know of three athletes that were not aloud to transfer to SW one finally got end the next year and is on the football team .If you know Mrs. Hester you know she is by the book .

 

I keep hearing those types of things, but when I'm informed that some 40-50 Moss Middle students had transfers approved this year (which is of course the middle school level rather than high school), that's why I have reason to doubt. That's roughly 10% of the entire middle school population. I would verify that, but they no longer post those on the online minutes.

 

I can tell you this much - neither Moss or Warren Central feels it is being adhered to.

A couple of questions from someone outside of the area.

 

1. Has there been a large growth in the overall student census in the Warren County area, and if so what is fueling that. (Jobs,etc.)?

 

2. Will redistricting really change the strength of the programs much?

(I say this because no matter it seems athletes will end up where they desire to go)

 

 

Bowling Green has grown from a population of 18,347 in 1950 to an estimated 62,479 now. They doubled in size between 1950-1980, but after spending the 1980's with a stagnant population, they have grown by 54% since 1990. A large portion of that growth is due to the International Center, which brings in a lot of refugees. Bowling Green is also pretty aggressive and successful in job growth and attracting new jobs.

 

Warren County has grown from a population of 42,758 in 1950 to an estimated 120,460 now. They've grown by 57% in the last 25 years.

 

 

As far as whether redistricting will really change the programs much, it's basically impossible to say. I can tell you that from my experience, I didn't think South Warren would have nearly the impact it did on Warren Central when it opened and redistricting took place, and the program is basically in shambles. So things can drastically change. Do I expect that to happen to South Warren? Not really, no.

Some SW folks have at times been quite aggressive and brazen in their athletic recruitment. At least on coach who would have benefitted is gone.

I have not heard of it with regard to football however there are Spartan players with roots in nearby counties.

If the WCSB doesn't correct what they did with WC they will be facing an embarrassing situation in Frankfort.

I've heard a few rumors that WCPS was wanting to open another high school in Plano? It was also said that at this time, the state wouldn't allow it because many of the county schools aren't filled. Any truth to the rumor of another high school possibly being built?

I have heard the same rumors only in Richardsville area.

I have heard the same rumors only in Richardsville area.

 

There's no way that's true. Warren East has remained almost static in enrollment for years and years. No need to add another school in Richardsville, where they'd only take from East.

 

I've heard a few rumors that WCPS was wanting to open another high school in Plano? It was also said that at this time, the state wouldn't allow it because many of the county schools aren't filled. Any truth to the rumor of another high school possibly being built?

 

I haven't heard Plano before, but Alvaton tons of times. Plano (deep Plano) actually might be more applicable to check the growth of both Greenwood and South Warren. It'd have to be out towards Drake or Boyce (which in having searched for Boyce is technically Alvaton) to be properly placed. In hindsight, that area would have made districting much easier to determine, both now and in the future.

 

I've heard more than one thing about why new projects might not be approved, though capacity wasn't among them. A person I know used to comment that Warren County must get some sort of kickback from construction companies as much as they build.