Edgewater Elementary, Crofton High School Named Priorities: Study

From the AACPS Communications Office:

A high school for Crofton and a new elementary school for Edgewater are among the top facility needs in the county, according to a study.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has a $2.1 billion infrastructure backlog of chool facilities, and needs five new schools to accommodate increasing student enrollment during the first phase of the 10-year plan, according to an independent updated school facilities study presented to the Board of Education today.

The Strategic Facilities Utilization Master Plan makes recommendations regarding the prioritization of school construction projects across the county. It also offers recommendations about ideal school sizes and redistricting to alleviate overcrowding in some schools.

The study was prepared by MGT of America, Inc., the same firm that developed AACPS’ original study in 2006.

The priority list considered building condition, educational suitability, site condition, and technology readiness. The study also took into account what it considers preferred – but not mandated – school sizes at each level: 1,600 for high schools, 1,200 for middle schools, and 600 for elementary schools.

Edgewater, Tyler Heights, and Richard Henry Lee elementary schools were placed at the top of its $1.1 billion Phase I recommendations, followed by Quarterfield and Hillsmere elementary schools. Two new schools – a Crofton high school and a new “Old Mill West” high school – placed sixth and seventh, respectively.

“Ultimately, it is the children of our county who will benefit greatly from this work,” Board of Education President Stacy Korbelak said. “This study puts forth a blueprint for us to create new opportunities for the children we serve, and to educate them in more state-of-the-art facilities than ever before. The citizens of our county should be proud of the efforts undertaken by all entities to produce this report.”

Rippling Woods Elementary School placed eighth on the list, followed by replacement projects at Old Mill Middle School North, Old Mill Middle School South, and the existing Old Mill High School. A new elementary school in the northeast portion of the county is 12th on the list.

Schools that have already received county or state funding, or which have construction projects already in progress, were not placed on the updated prioritization list and will proceed as previously scheduled, pending funding availability.

“I am very pleased with the thorough nature of this study,” County Council Chairman Jerry Walker said. “It not only lays out a path to create new facilities like the Crofton high school, but it recognizes the need to quickly fix outdated facilities like Edgewater Elementary School.”

The report also recommended a new high school and a new elementary school in the western portion of the county. AACPS is projected to have more than 80,000 students this year, and grow to more than 86,000 by 2024.

The complete report and other documents related to the study can be found at www.aacps.org.