INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Public Schools on Thursday approved the reconfiguration of grade levels to create dedicated middle schools (7th-8th grade) and increase the number of elementary schools that serve students through 8th grade.
The proposal came on the backs of IPS family requests for the moves.
Five current elementary schools will expand from K-6 to K-8. They are:
· George W. Julian School 57
· James Whitcomb Riley School 43
· Stephen Foster School 67
· Washington Irving School 14
· Wendell Phillips School 63
Broad Ripple High School for the Arts and Humanities, George Washington Community High School and Northwest Community High School will gradually phase out middle school grades.
You can read the full announcement from IPS below:
At the August 25 Action Session, the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners approved a proposal to implement the reconfiguration of grade levels in several IPS schools to enhance opportunities for our middle grades students. Community feedback and district data both support the initiative to transition away from the combined high school model often referred to in the district as "community high schools" which houses both middle and high school students in many of our secondary schools.
Many of our families have expressed interest in both dedicated middle schools (7th-8th grades) as well as the increasing the number of elementary schools to serve students through 8th grade. The proposal approved by the Board creates more opportunities satisfying both options requested by our families. When the 2017-2018 school year begins, five of our current elementary schools will expand from K-6 to K-8:
· George W. Julian School 57
· James Whitcomb Riley School 43
· Stephen Foster School 67
· Washington Irving School 14
· Wendell Phillips School 63
Two strategic shifts on the city's east side will allow IPS to provide targeted, age-appropriate supports for students along with dedicated community support for families. John Marshall Community High School will transition to a middle school, serving 7th and 8th Grade students who live in both the John Marshall and Arlington Community High School boundaries. Community partners will maintain a strong presence in the new John Marshall Middle School as it serves as a hub to connect families with valuable resources. Arlington will transition to a traditional high school model, serving only students in grades 9-12 from our east side neighborhoods (including current John Marshall high school students).
Another shift will be implemented to create a high-level middle grades instructional environment for our students considering a future in the healthcare or STEM fields. In response to the preferences expressed by our families, a new medical/STEM middle school will replicate the popular program currently at Harshman Middle School; this school will be located in the Longfellow building. Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School will phase out grades 6 through 8 this year, and all current Crispus Attucks middle grades students will have guaranteed seats next year in our new middle school, which would serve as a feeder program to the high school.
Our remaining combined middle/high schools - Broad Ripple High School for the Arts and Humanities, George Washington Community High School and Northwest Community High School - will gradually phase out middle grades. Each school will serve grades 8-12 in the 2017-2018 school year before becoming traditional 9-12 high schools for the 2018-2019 school year. While our high schools will no longer house middle grades, these schools will continue to serve as welcoming, supportive community hubs for the neighborhoods they serve.
"Our commitment to the community - having businesses and nonprofits as partners in support of our students and families - continues to be our foundation," said Deputy Superintendent for Academics Dr. Wanda H. Legrand.
A dedicated middle school expansion team including curriculum coaches, principals and teachers is already drafting transition plans to ensure our educators are fully supported. Professional development opportunities will begin in September for any teachers planning to transfer to middle grades next school year. The team will visit other schools in our community and in other cities which have successfully made this transition, and will share best practices with our teachers.
As we move toward implementation of this plan in the fall of 2017, we will continue open and thoughtful conversation with our students, families, staff and neighbors regarding the future of our high schools. With the transition to dedicate middle grades offerings, we will have fewer students in our high schools and the need to consolidate will be likely to provide the most appropriate conditions for student achievement by redirecting operational dollars associated with maintaining underutilized facilities to increase instructional supports. There will be continued opportunities for public input as we consider the potential to have fewer high schools in the district while focusing on increasing attractive and rewarding choices for our high school students.
"I think that it's important for us to put this in the context of what we're solving for," said Board Vice President Sam Odle. "I don't think the broader community clearly understands the challenge that IPS is facing by the number of buildings that we operate. Even though we are the elected officials and we're accountable for the decisions we make about the assets that the school system has, I think in this situation when we're talking about major pieces of real estate in our community, we need to make the decisions with a broader group of people - city government, state government and the business community - so we can look at the other things we might do with this real estate that are positive for the community."
