Attendance Area Changes
The Columbia Public Schools understands that attendance areas will change when new buildings open, and may need to be adjusted when school buildings have grown beyond their capacity.
In the fall of 2023, the school district began the process to make adjustments to the district’s attendance areas to incorporate a new elementary school in south Columbia. The work also includes adjustments to address areas of growth in the district.
Guiding Principles
- Attendance areas do change and will continue to change. This work is part of a regular review of district enrollment patterns.
- The attendance area should anticipate future growth of neighborhoods. A walkable and bikeable school is important, but may not always be possible.
- The attendance area seeks to reflect the composition of the Columbia Public Schools community.
- The board recognizes the power of a school to create a community. Accessibility for families is important (volunteering and attending school functions are easier when the school is near).
- Consider the time students spend on a bus and the distance traveled to and from school.
- Consider attendance areas boundary lines that follow natural/man-made boundaries.
- Consider a transfer policy that allows 5th graders to remain at their previous school and policies that allow siblings to remain.
Board of Education Presentations
- Download the new Demographics and GIS Mapping | December 11, 2023 (PDF)
- Download the Board of Education Attendance Area Phase I Recommendation Presentation | April 17, 2024 (PDF)
- Download the Board of Education Attendance Area Phase II and Phase III Presentation | May 13, 2024 (PDF)
- Download the Long-Range Facilities Committee Attendance Area Update Materials | June 5, 2024
- Download the Board of Education Attendance Area Phase II and Phase III Presentation | June 10, 2024 (PDF)
Resources
Phase I Changes
The Board of Education voted on April 17, 2024, to adopt Option 1 changes for Phase I. The changes will be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.
- Presentation (PDF)
- Narrated Presentation (Video)
- Options Packet (PDF)
- School Locator (Interactive Map)
Surveys were conducted to gather feedback on 3 options related to Phase I changes.
Phase II and III Changes
Approved Attendance Area Changes (July 8, 2024)
The Board of Education voted on July 8, 2024, to adopt changes for Phase II & Phase III. Phase II will be implemented in 2025 and Phase III will be implemented in 2026.
- School Locator (search by your home address, Interactive Map)
- Recommendation Presentation
- Maps (PDF)
- Board of Education Update and Recommendation Presentation (Video)
Final Options (June 5, 2024)
- School Locator (Interactive Map)
- Options Packet
- Narrated Presentation (Video)
- Presentation Slide Deck
XL Maps
- Option A-1 Elementary Attendance Areas
Surveys were conducted to gather feedback on the final options for Phase II & III changes.
Survey summary results