Boundary Study Committee Makes Recommendation: Here Is How Each School's Attendance Area Would Change + Maps

BALTIMORE COUNTY - The Central and Northeast Area Boundary Committee has submitted its recommendation to the Baltimore County Board of Education.

The committee was tasked with establishing an attendance area for the new Northeast area middle school and providing capacity relief to the area's overcrowded middle schools.

During the final committee meeting held at Parkville High School on Wednesday evening, the group voted to recommend Map Option E, as pictured below.

Map Option E of the Central and Northeast Area Boundary Study. (Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS)

Map Option E was unexpectedly introduced at the meeting. Previously, committee members were presented with only four map options, A through D. The new option limits the number of students who will be affected by the changes while also providing essential capacity relief for several of the area schools. 

Overall, 1,625 students will be impacted if Map Option E is approved, the second least of any of the choices. It also has the second smallest impact on High School feeder patterns, making the map enticing for parents with differing concerns. 

The map now moves on to the Board of Education of Baltimore County for a final decision. The Board will consider the committee’s choice and may modify the map again before meeting on May 17 for a final public hearing.

The board will approve the final boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year on June 13.

Here is how each school's boundaries and capacity would change if the Board approves Map Option E without edits:

(The key changes for each map to accommodate its existing colors.)

Cockeysville Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas added to Cockeysville Middle School are highlighted in Green. (The western area of the school's boundary remains unchanged and is not included in this image.)

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Cockeysville Middle will lose an estimated 105 students in Option E, providing relief for the at-capacity school. The school's demographics will remain largely unchanged, with the school going from 41% identifying as white to 40%. 

Dumbarton Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas added to Dumbarton Middle School are highlighted in lime green.

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Dumbarton Middle School will lose a total of 183 students in Option E, leaving the school at 84% projected total capacity. The school's demographics are projected to shift slightly, with 5% more of the student body identifying as white. 

Loch Raven Academy:

Key: Attendance areas added to Loch Raven Academy are highlighted in green, and areas lost are highlighted in red. 

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Loch Raven Academy is projected to lose 147 students, leaving the school at 84% capacity. The school's demographics will remain almost entirely unchanged. 

Middle River Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas added to Middle River Middle School are highlighted in lime green, and areas lost are highlighted in white.

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Middle River is losing a projected 138 students, leaving the school at 86% total capacity. The school is expected to become slightly more diverse, with the increase coming from English Language Learner (ELL) students, who are projected to make up 8% of the new school population.

Parkville Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas added to Parkville Middle School are highlighted in blue, and areas lost are highlighted in white.

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Parkville MS is projected to lose 139 students, leaving the school at 87% capacity. The school's demographics will shift slightly, with 3% more students identifying as white and 3% fewer FARMS students attending the school.

Perry Hall Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas lost for Perry Hall Middle School are highlighted in white. (The northern part of Perry Hall MS's boundary is unchanged and not pictured.)

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Perry Hall Middle School sees some of the most significant capacity relief of any school under Option E, losing a total of 184 students, leaving the school at 89% capacity. The school's demographics remain largely unchanged except for a 4% decrease in FARMS students in attendance.

Pine Grove Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas added to Pine Grove Middle School are highlighted in green, and areas lost are highlighted in white.

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Pine Grove Middle School's projected attendance decreases by 174 students in Option E, leaving the school at 86% of its total capacity. The school would become slightly more diverse, with an increase in FARMS students (3%) and students who identify as African American (2%).

Ridgely Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas lost for Ridgely Middle School are highlighted in red. (The western part of  Ridgely's attendance area was unchanged and not pictured.) 

(Note: A small area was added to Ridgely's attendance area. "PB 128" is not highlighted on the map.)

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Ridgely Middle School would experience the most minor changes of any school under Option E. The school would only lose 72 total students, leaving it at 93% capacity. The school's demographic makeup would remain almost entirely unchanged. 

Stemmer's Run Middle School:

Key: Attendance areas lost for Stemmer's Run Middle School are highlighted in white, and areas added are highlighted in green.

Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools/ Cropper GIS

Stemmer's Run will lose a projected 187 students, leaving the school at 84% of its maximum capacity. The only shift in the school's demographics is a 2% increase in FARMS students in attendance.

For more information about the Central and Northeast Area Boundary Study or to view/download a PDF of Map Option E, see here.