THE RIGHT SIZE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
On June 1, 2021, residents of the Harrisburg School District will decide whether to approve a bond for 1) a new middle school needed to address current overcrowding and serve increasingly larger classes at the lower grade levels, and 2) the construction of a freshman academy, the first phase in a two-phase project, to address overcrowding at the high school, which will reach capacity in the next three years. Once the high school population reaches 2,200-2,400 students, the freshman academy will be expanded to a second full 9-12 high school. When this year's middle schoolers reach the secondary level in 2023, the high school will be over capacity.
North Middle School
A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
located in the high-growth area of the northeastern quadrant of the District will allow balancing of middle school populations. South Middle School
MIDDLE SCHOOL GROWTH
CLASS OF
2027
2026
2025
2024
Grade
Grade
Grade
Grade
470 + 434 + 408 + 407 MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES
+
=
FRESHMAN CLASS
1,719
> 1,650
CURRENT HS CAPACITY
HIGH SCHOOL GROWTH
Why Not Build a Second 9-12 High School Now? TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
Building a second complete high school for 9-12 grade students now would result in higher taxes. By the time a second full high school is needed, additional bonds are expected to be paid off, and continued growth in taxable valuation would allow additional facilities to be added without having to raise taxes. If the current high school population was split in half, academic offerings and extracurricular activities would likely take a step backward. It would be more difficult to compete with larger AA schools. The design of the high school facility would allow for future growth, when needed, to ensure we can accommodate our students' needs now and in the future without having to increase taxes by building too much too soon.
• VOTE TUESDAY, JUNE 1 •
THE BRIDGE | SUMMER 2021
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