Superintendent's Preliminary Recommendation

Analysis by region: QUEEN ANNE/MAGNOLIA

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Overview:  

There are four neighborhood schools in the Queen Anne/Magnolia region (Blaine, Coe, Hay, and Lawton) that provide a total of 1,520 seats for kindergarten through fifth grade students. Currently 1,428 of the elementary students attending Seattle Public Schools reside in this region. The number of resident elementary students attending Seattle Public Schools is projected to increase to 1,822 by 2014.

Currently there are 92 excess seats; by 2014 we anticipate needing 302 seats. Therefore we recommend not closing any buildings, although we do recommend changing one assignment and transportation area.   

Building Closure Recommendation:

• None

Building Repurpose Recommendation:

• None

Other Recommendations:

• Additional capacity may be needed at either Magnolia (currently closed) or Old Hay (proposed for closure, see below) to address future demand for additional seats.
• Change assignment and transportation area for Salmon Bay K-8 alternative program to add the Queen Anne/Magnolia region.

Criteria Metrics:

Note: Buildings within the region are ranked on each criterion in descending order from 1 to 4, with 1 indicating the most preferred.

Discussion of the Criteria and Rationale:  

The elementary buildings in this region currently provide sufficient capacity for neighborhood students. However, we are projecting an increase in the number of students and the need for additional elementary capacity by 2014. The currently closed Magnolia building or the Old Hay building may be available for reopening if future capacity is needed.

The proposed new assignment plan provides access to at least one alternative K-8 program for students in every region. Queen Anne/Magnolia does not have an alternative K-8, so we recommend changing the attendance area for Salmon Bay, which currently draws from the North, Northwest, and Northeast clusters. The proposal would drop the Northeast region, and add the Queen Anne/Magnolia region. Students in this region would continue to have access to the AS #1 alternative K-8 program.  

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Overview:

There are two neighborhood middle schools in the Queen Anne/Magnolia region (Blaine and McClure) that provide a total of 774 seats for sixth through eighth grade students. Currently 567 of the middle school students in Seattle Public Schools reside in this region. The number of resident middle school students attending Seattle Public Schools is expected to rise to 758 students in 2014.  

Currently there are 207 excess seats; in 2014 we project an excess of only 16 seats. Therefore, we do not recommend closing any buildings, although we do recommend changing one assignment and transportation area.   

Building Closure Recommendation:

• None

Building Repurpose Recommendation:

• None

Other Recommendations:

• Change assignment and transportation area for Salmon Bay K-8 alternative program, which currently includes the North, Northwest, and Northeast clusters, to drop the Northeast region and add the Queen Anne/Magnolia region.

Criteria Metrics:

Discussion of the Criteria and Rationale:

See discussion in Elementary School section above.

HIGH SCHOOL

Overview:

There is one regional high school in Queen Anne/Magnolia (The Center School) that provides a total of 300 seats for ninth through twelfth grade students. Currently 725 of the high school students in Seattle Public Schools reside in this region. The number of resident high school students attending Seattle Public Schools is expected to rise to 1113 students in 2014.  

Currently we need 425 seats in this region; in 2014 we project a shortage of 813 seats. Therefore, we do not recommend closing any buildings, although we do recommend redrawing all high school attendance boundaries to ensure that Queen Anne/Magnolia students are assigned to a neighborhood comprehensive high school.

In addition to The Center School, the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (BOC), which educates recent immigrants who are in grades six through twelve, is located in this region. We recommend closing this building, and relocating the Secondary BOC program to T.T. Minor, in the Central region, which we also recommend closing.

Building Closure Recommendation:

• Old Hay (houses the Secondary BOC— school analysis)

Building Repurpose Recommendation:

• None

Other Recommendations:

• As part of the proposed new assignment plan, we recommend eliminating the distance tiebreaker for The Center School, and designating the school as an all-city draw.
• As part of the proposed new assignment plan, redraw all high school attendance boundaries to ensure that Queen Anne/Magnolia students are assigned to a neighborhood comprehensive high school.

Criteria Metrics:

Discussion of the Criteria and Rationale:

The Center School, opened in 2002, is in a leased location in the Seattle Center House. The current assignment plan has permitted students from throughout the city to attend the school, although Queen Anne/Magnolia students have priority for admission. With a capacity for 300 students, the facility is too small to accommodate all students living in Queen Anne/Magnolia. We recommend redrawing all high school attendance boundaries to ensure that Queen Anne/Magnolia students are assigned to a neighborhood comprehensive high school. We recommend eliminating the distance tiebreaker and making the school an all-city draw. This will continue to allow students from throughout the city to have access to this program.  

The Secondary BOC program is designed to educate those students who have recently immigrated to the Seattle area. Students traditionally remain in the school for one semester, although some students may remain for up to one year. The school is currently located in the Old Hay building. This building needs extensive renovation, and while levy dollars were originally set aside to renovate Old Hay, after reviewing the program it became desirable to close the Old Hay building and relocate the program to a more central site, rather than maintaining the program in Queen Anne. We recommend closing Old Hay, and moving the Secondary BOC program to T.T. Minor, in the Central region.