General observations:
In considering boundary changes, the review committee considers a variety of factors: 

• Building capacity (with and without existing portables) for each school
• Student safety considerations
• Current enrollment and anticipated enrollment growth for each school
• New development and anticipated population growth in the neighborhoods served by each school
• Anticipated new school construction
• Cultural and socioeconomic balance, to the extent practical
• Sensitivity to special needs and the capacity of schools to serve special needs students
• Proximity of schools to where students live
• Transportation considerations
• Stability of attendance boundaries, with the goal that students not be rezoned more frequently than necessary
• Feeder school alignment
• Maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods wherever possible
• Real estate occupancy/vacancy rates
• Impact of boundary changes on Public Schools Facilities Authority prioritization of state school construction needs

The principal reason for proposing changes to attendance boundaries is to create attendance zones for four new schools: V. Sue Cleveland HS opening in the fall of 2009 north of Paseo del Volcan and west of Westphalia Blvd., Cielo Azul and Sandia Vista Elementary Schools opening in the fall of 2008, and a new middle school which will begin operating in the current Mid-High facility in the fall of 2009.  The high school boundary is being considered first because the location of this boundary may affect decisions about the elementary and middle school boundaries.

In 2009 with the opening of the new high school, the grade levels served by Rio Rancho middle schools and high schools will change.  In 2009 Rio Rancho’s comprehensive high schools (currently grade 10-12 schools) will begin serving students in grades 9-12, with middle schools (currently serving grades 6-7) becoming grade 6-8 schools. 

Rio Rancho HS and Cleveland HS are designed to hold approximately the same number of students (2,350 - 2,400 without portable classrooms).  However, in 2009-10 all seniors will remain at Rio Rancho High, and Cleveland HS will serve only students in grade 9-11.  First-year high schools open without a senior class because they are not yet accredited by the state and the North Central Association.  Also most seniors prefer to graduate from the school they have attended throughout their high school years.  

Because of this, the boundary committee reviewed enrollment for two school years, 2009-10, and 2010-11.  In 2009, enrollment at Rio Rancho High will be substantially higher than at Cleveland HS because all of the seniors will be at RRHS.  The balance shifts in 2010 when Cleveland HS starts serving all four grade levels (9-12).

In looking at options for the high school boundary, the committee considered historical data and demographic projections for growth in Rio Rancho.  The historical data indicates the northern half of Rio Rancho (north of Northern Blvd.) has been growing at a much higher rate than the southern end.  The development of Cabezon and Loma Colorado will temporarily increase growth rates south of Northern Blvd., but even with this development growth rates to the north are somewhat higher than those to the south.  Because of this, the committee felt it would be prudent to allow some room for growth at Cleveland HS.   Growth rates in Rio Rancho generally have slowed in the last year, from about 8.5% annually to about 5.5% annually.  Our demographers estimate growth will slow to about 5% overall annually next year, then increase to about 7% annually as the economy improves.

The committee proceeded on the assumption that, because of the district’s rate of growth, boundaries will need to be reviewed again in two years.  The high school boundary may or may not be affected by this assumption. 

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Options Under Consideration:

Over the past few weeks, the boundary committee has looked formally and informally at many different scenarios.  Six of these scenarios, along with three variations on one of the scenarios, were mapped for consideration by the committee.   After looking at these options, the consensus of the committee was to bring the following two options forward for public input: Option 1 (view map), Option 2 (view map).

Option 1: Northern Blvd. (This is the option that the RRPS School Board adopted on 12/17. Details...)

Option 1 creates attendance zones for Rio Rancho HS and Cleveland HS by using Northern Blvd. as the boundary from the western to eastern end of the district.

School-by-school enrollment summary:

School	Current RRHS grade 10-12 enrollment and RR Mid-High 9th grade enrollment	Current RRPS enrollment Grades 7-10 (grades 9-12 in 2009)	Option 1 enrollment 2009-10 (all seniors stay at RRHS) No growth	Enrollment with 4% annual growth at RRHS and 6% annual growth at CHS	Current enrollment Grades 6-9 (grades 9-12 in 2010)	Option 1 enrollment 2010-11 No growth	Enrollment with 4% annual growth at RRHS and 6% annual growth at CHS
Rio Rancho HS	4,425	4,909	3,258	3,519	4,760	2,553	2,859
Cleveland HS			1,651	1,849		2,207	2,604

School-By-School Analysis

Rio Rancho HS:

Existing boundary: Includes entire school district

Proposed new boundary:

• North:  Northern Blvd from the eastern to western district boundary
• East:  Eastern district boundary
• South:  Southern district boundary
• West:  Western district boundary

Option 1: Removes from the current RRHS attendance zone: All students living north of Northern Blvd.

Adds to the current RRHS attendance zone: None

Approximate Enrollment, 2009-10 (includes ALL RRPS seniors):

• Current enrollment, grades 10-12:  3,176
• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12 with all RRPS seniors: 3,258
• Anticipated enrollment with 4% annual growth, grades 9-12 with all RRPS seniors: 3,519

Approximate Enrollment, 2010-11:

• Current enrollment, grades 10-12:  3,176
• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12: 2,553
• Anticipated enrollment with 4% annual growth, grades 9-12: 2,859

Cleveland HS:

Existing boundary: None

Proposed new boundary:

• North:  Northern district boundary
• East:  Eastern district boundary
• South:  Northern Blvd from the eastern to western district boundary
• West:  Western district boundary

Option 1: Removes from the CHS attendance zone: N/A

Adds to the CHS attendance zone: All students living north of Northern Blvd.

Approximate Enrollment, 2009-10 (includes grades 9-11 only; all seniors stay at RRHS):

• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-11: 1,651
• Anticipated enrollment with 6% annual growth, grades 9-11: 1,849

Approximate Enrollment, 2010-11:

• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12: 2,207
• Anticipated enrollment with 6% annual growth, grades 9-12: 2,604

Notes: 

If Rio Rancho continues to grow, as our demographers as well as the city’s forecasts indicate it will, both high schools will be at or over capacity by the 2010-2011 school year.  The district expects to open a career pathways center in the 9th grade wing of the Mid-High School which will offer advanced classes to help students acquire useful skills in popular career fields.  Programming for this facility is still being determined, but could include courses related to health care, film and television, and culinary arts among others.  This facility is expected to draw approximately 400 students from each school.

Option 2: Northern Blvd/Vista Hills

Option 2 creates attendance zones for Rio Rancho HS and Cleveland HS by using Northern Blvd. as the boundary from the western end of the district to 40th Street.  It then follows the alignment of 40th Street south to Sundt Blvd. and follows the alignment of Sundt Blvd. east to the district boundary.  This option would send students living in the Vista Hills neighborhood to Cleveland HS.

School-by-school enrollment summary:

School	Current RRHS grade 10-12 enrollment and RR Mid-High 9th grade enrollment	Current RRPS enrollment Grades 7-10 (grades 9-12 in 2009)	Option 2 enrollment 2009-10 (all seniors stay at RRHS) No growth	Enrollment with 4% annual growth at RRHS and 6% annual growth at CHS	Current enrollment Grades 6-9 (grades 9-12 in 2010)	Option 2 enrollment 2010-11 No growth	Enrollment with 4% annual growth at RRHS and 6% annual growth at CHS
Rio Rancho HS	4,425	4,909	3,038	3,281	4,760	2,276	2,549
Cleveland HS			1,871	1,871		2,484	2,931

School-By-School Analysis

Rio Rancho HS:

Existing boundary: Includes entire school district

Proposed new boundary:

• North: West on Northern Blvd from the western district boundary to approximately 40th St, southward along the alignment of 40th St. to Sundt Rd.(between Vista Hills and Loma Colorado), east on Sundt and along the alignment of Sundt Blvd. to the eastern district boundary.
• East:  Eastern district boundary
• South:  Southern district boundary
• West:  Western district boundary

Option 2: Removes from the current RRHS attendance zone: All students living north of Northern Blvd. and students living in Vista Hills

Adds to the current RRHS attendance zone: None

Approximate Enrollment, 2009-10 (includes ALL RRPS seniors):

• Current enrollment, grades 10-12:  3,176
• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12 with all RRPS seniors: 3,038
• Anticipated enrollment with 4% annual growth, grades 9-12 with all RRPS seniors: 3,281

Approximate Enrollment, 2010-11:

• Current enrollment, grades 10-12:  3,176
• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12: 2,276
• Anticipated enrollment with 4% annual growth, grades 9-12: 2,549

Cleveland HS:

Existing boundary: None

Proposed new boundary:

• North:  Northern district boundary
• East:  Eastern district boundary
• South: West on Northern Blvd from the western district boundary to approximately 40th St, southward along the alignment of 40th St. to Sundt Rd.(between Vista Hills and Loma Colorado), east on Sundt and along the alignment of Sundt Blvd. to the eastern district boundary.
• West:  Western district boundary

Option 2: Removes from the CHS attendance zone: N/A

Adds to the CHS attendance zone: All students living north of Northern Blvd. and students living in Vista Hills

Approximate Enrollment, 2009-10 (includes grades 9-11 only; all seniors stay at RRHS):

• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-11: 1,871
• Anticipated enrollment with 6% annual growth, grades 9-11: 2,096

Approximate Enrollment, 2010-11:

• Anticipated enrollment without growth, grades 9-12: 2,484
• Anticipated enrollment with 6% annual growth, grades 9-12: 2,931

Notes: 

See notes for Option 1

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