Tracking Growth

There are several reasons we are looking at attendance boundaries. Some areas of Manteca Unified School District are growing rapidly while other areas have a shrinking population of school-aged children. Rather than build more new schools than needed (at a cost of close to $40+ million each), the District is dedicated to building strong neighborhood schools, maximizing resources, and the use of existing facilities. MUSD has commissioned an on-going study to continuously evaluate our projected student enrollment. The study allowed us to create healthier school enrollment across the District now and into the next decade.

Because the creation of new boundaries must consider the needs of the District as a whole, the process is kept impartial. Five considerations are used when measuring the effectiveness of any given boundary scenario. In no particular order, these considerations are:

• Keep neighborhoods together
• Maximize design capacity of existing schools
• Create boundaries that are long lasting
• Reduce or eliminate split elementary schools
• Reduce operational costs

While we encourage every student to attend their home school, we recognize that sometimes families have special circumstances that make attending a different school more ideal. There are several types of transfers available for families in these situations. Information about transfers can be found online at https://www.mantecausd.net/boundaries. All transfer types contain some limitations in the case of a school being overcrowded and/or without space in a given grade level. (Reference “Grandfathering” practice questions below)

Your site principal is happy to talk with anyone who has questions or concerns about the process and/or the possible scenarios once they are released. If they are not able to address your concerns, we can arrange a meeting with District level staff who are working to develop recommended boundaries. Online input can also be submitted via the boundary planning page on https://www.mantecausd.net/boundaries. The District’s administration is committed to providing parents with ample opportunity for input and discussion about any boundary recommendations prior to the meetings of the Governing Board at which a decision will be made.

We’ll continue to share information in our monthly newsletter, website and parent meetings here at our school. The District will also be using their social media channels, bimonthly publication of The MARK Highlights and the District’s  website to share information and updates with the community.

Yes, transportation to your new home school will be provided as resources are available, and outlined in our bussing regulation. There are different walking zones for different grade levels managed by the Transportation Department. Please note transportation to your school of choice will not be provided if outside of the area covered by the bussing regulation.

General Existing Guidelines:

• 1.25 miles radius K-8 students
• 2.5 miles radius 9-12 students

Yes, an exception request can be made with your school site when ALL of the following criteria can be met:

• The bus must already travel upon the roadway in which the exception is requested.
• There must be sufficient space on the bus for the students at the expected stop.
• The additional stop will add no additional cost to the route. 9 There must be a hardship.
• The exception stop:
  • Must provide space for enough students to warrant the stop.
  • Must accommodate a minimal amount of students serviced.
  • May be granted as long as space is available and will not extend beyond the current school year only.
  • May be removed at any time if space availability decreases.

* Re-application is necessary each school year to have the stop considered/reconsidered for an exception. The student will be able to board at a pre-established bus stop if all criteria is met

It establishes the priority for existing students to remain at their current school of attendance.

Students residing within the affected areas of adjustment and/or change.

There will be an application process that will coincide with open enrollment.

Students enrolled as of the date specified in proposed boundary adjustments are eligible to apply for priority registration to remain at their current school of attendance during open enrollment in January of the upcoming school year. Siblings of students enrolled as of May the current school year are included in the priority registration if they apply in the upcoming school year to be “grandfathered."