Proposed WHS Addition
Summary of Process and Rationale
T
he proposal to expand Wayzata High School (WHS) rather than build a second smaller high school was based on months of work in spring and summer 2013 by the Community Task Force on Facilities, the Citizens Financial Advisory Council, the School Board Facilities Committee, input from staff, and Board and administrative review. After a comprehensive review of the school district’s enrollment growth and ways to address that growth, there was across-the-board-agreement on the decision to expand the current high school over other options. February – May 2013: A Community Task Force on Facilities composed of a
broad cross section of interests from the Wayzata School District – existing residents, District alumni, new residents, parents, and grandparents – was appointed by the Wayzata School Board and met several times to review district enrollment trends and recommend appropriate facilities responses.
u Task Force studied a variety of grade
v Task Force studied information on large high schools: variety that exist, locations, academic performance. Confirmed that large high schools can and do have high academic performance– including the current Wayzata High School; found at least 13 other states with high performing, similarly sized, and even larger, high schools with high academic performance. Also confirmed the broad opportunities for all students that exist within a larger high school.
high school in Wayzata was essentially established in the 1990s during planning for the current 3,200-student high school. Building a second high school today would result in two very different sized high schools. The existing school facility would house 2,800–3,200 students and a second high school would house 800–1,200 students. School districts that operate two or more high schools tend to establish “equivalent” facilities with similar sized student capacities to provide as equitable of programming and facilities as possible. Based on current population modeling and available land projections, a second high school would always be significantly smaller than the current high school, establishing equity challenges long term.
w Task Force examined case studies
x Task Force studied the benefits and
organizations other than the current K-5, 6-8, 9-12 grade configuration. Confirmed that the current grade organization is the preferred model based on current educational research and best practices.
of area school districts that made the decision to go from one to two high schools. Concluded that the vision to have one
potential challenges of one large high school vs. adding a second smaller high school. Concluded that the benefits of a larger
Excellence. For Each and Every Student.
high school far outweighed the benefits of adding a second smaller high school. A larger high school provides a more varied set of opportunities to meet the needs of each and every student, while also offering a helpful transition to college. More staff and more space would maintain desirable class sizes. Existing programs and support structures that create small, nurturing environments within a large campus would expand. Increased enrollment would offer a wider variety of learning opportunities, and an increased number of clubs, activities and intramural offerings based on students’ interests. In addition, operating costs for a second high school would likely exceed an additional $12 million over the next 20 years.
y Task Force studied the expansion of the current building and campus. Concluded that adding on to the existing high school would effectively mirror the physical structure already in place to meet the needs of all students. The high school is currently four stories organized by grade level so that most students take their core classes and receive support services on the same floor as their peers. z Task Force presented rationale and research to Wayzata School Board in May 2013. The School Board and Administration concurred with the Task Force findings, did further analysis during summer 2013 and unanimously agreed to include the high school addition as part of the growth response recommendation for Board Action in Fall 2013. 9/2013
Learn more at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/growth