• Redistricting Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is the North Allegheny School District altering its elementary and middle school borders?

    The District has experienced significant growth over the past few years. At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, NA had 8,555 students, which is the highest enrollment in the history of North Allegheny. Elementary school capacity has not been able to keep up with that growth, resulting in disconnected school attendance zones and an imbalance between where students live and where the schools are located.

    The elementary schools in the District are quickly approaching their capacities for classroom and support spaces for students. Exterior portable classrooms are currently in use at Bradford Woods Elementary and Marshall Elementary in order to accommodate the large and growing student population, and the District is in the midst of a renovation project at Franklin Elementary that will increase the capacity of the building.

    During the 2017-2018 school year, it was projected by a local demographer that enrollment will continue to increase significantly in the coming years. The District also continues to see a large number of families move into the District as their children reach school age and high turnover rates in the housing market within the District.

    The original redistricting plan was scheduled to begin at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ultimate closure of all North Allegheny school buildings for the final three months of the 2019-2020 school year, the plan to redistrict students currently in grades K-4 was delayed for one year. For the 2020-2021 school year, students in grades K-4 are following the current boundaries, rather than the redistricted boundaries. Redistricting was implemented as planned for the start of the 2020-2021 school year for students who were in grades 5, 6, and 7 in May 2020. NASD honored the continuation option for current 6th and 7th grade students who elected to remain in their current school.

    How many students will be affected by the 2021-2022 redistricting?

    Approximately 480 elementary and middle school students will change schools at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year due to redistricting. This number will be smaller if current 4th students elect to remain in their current building for 2021-2022.

    Will you allow current 4th grade students to remain in their current school next year?

    Yes. Families can elect to keep a current 4th student in his/her current school for one more year. These requests will be due February 28, 2021. Families who elect this option will need to provide their own transportation to and from school.

    If my current 4th grade student opts to attend their current school for 5th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, can my younger students also stay at their current building?

    This option is only available for current 4th grade students.

    How can I see where the school boundaries are now?

    The current school boundaries, which were last drawn for the 2014-2015 school year, can be seen as part of the February 17 Redistricting Presentation to the School Board.

    When will families know who will be redistricted for the 2021-2022 school year?

    Below are links to a list of elementary and middle school streets that are part of the new redistricting plan.

    When will the new elementary/middle school borders take effect?

    The new middle school borders took effect for the 2020-2021 school year and the new elementary school borders will take effect for the 2021-2022 school year.

    Will the curriculum be different for my child if my neighborhood is reassigned to a different school?

    All of our District’s elementary and middle schools operate on the same curriculum and are afforded equal opportunities for access to arts and enrichment opportunities. NA teachers at all seven elementary schools and three middle schools are held to the same high standards for performance. Our curriculum and support services are designed to aid each student in reaching their own unique academic, social, and emotional goals. This equality allows our District officials to create blended teams consisting of students from all of our elementary and middle schools.

    What types of activities are in the transition plan?

    Transition activities will occur in the spring of 2021 for any students who are transitioning to a new school. Specific examples and timelines for these activities can be found in the February 17 Redistricting Presentation to the School Board.

    When will we know about the transition plans?

    The District will communicate transition plans to families in March 2021.

    How did the District come up with options for redistricting?

    The District utilized current demographics and projected growth data from a demographic study conducted in 2017. With this data, District officials, with input from community members via a survey in May 2019, looked at shifting multiple combinations of neighborhoods to other elementary and middle school attendance areas to achieve balance and growth within our seven elementary and three middle schools.

    How long do you anticipate this redistricting to last?

    Given the size, continued growth, and the population shifts in the District, redistricting has traditionally occurred every 6-8 years at North Allegheny.

    Does this mean the District will be hiring more teachers/staff members?

    Staffing at North Allegheny will continue to be adjusted as needed to meet the needs of the growing student population.

    Who will make the final decision?

    The School Board will vote on the final recommendation at the School Board Meeting on October 23.

    When is the last time the District went through redistricting?

    The most recent redistricting efforts were in 1999, 2007, and 2014.

    Can I request which school my child will attend?

    Parents/guardians cannot request which school their child attends. The school a child attends is based on the location of the family’s main residence.

    How can I best support my student during this transition?

    The biggest piece of advice is to stay positive! Children often learn behaviors from adults, so during transition times like these, it’s important to remain optimistic and provide positive support for your child. The District has also provided some helpful tips on change for children, which can be found on this page.