Boundary Adjustments

The proposed boundary adjustments are available during community workshops and online. Information about these sessions are sent via email and USPS mail.

Attendance boundary adjustments are a mitigation tool used to help the District respond to changes in where children and families are currently residing. Some neighborhoods are growing while others are seeing fewer school-aged children. Adjusting boundaries is sometimes necessary to prevent overcrowding in some schools and under-enrollment in others, helping to ensure that each school has the staff, capacity, and resources it needs to serve students.

New attendance areas approved by the Board in December will take immediate effect for new students. For existing students, the new boundaries would go into effect for the 2026/2027 school year.

The Board will not make a final determination on proposed boundary changes until December. Before that time, there will be info available online, community open discussions, and an online forum for families to provide input.
 

What factors does the District consider when looking at possible boundary scenarios?

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

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

District administration is committed to providing opportunities for input and discussion about boundary recommendations before the meeting of the Board at which a decision will be made. You are invited to share your input or ask questions by:

• Attending your school’s community workshop
• Speaking with your current principal
• Arranging a meeting with district-level staff

Yes, transportation to your new home school will be provided as resources are available, and outlined in our busing regulation. There are different walking zones for different grade levels managed by the Transportation Department:

General Existing Guidelines:

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

Please note transportation that is you request a transfer or apply for “Grandfathering” at your child’s current school, transportation will not be provided.

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.

Families must reapply 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.

The “Grandfathering” practice allows families to apply to have their child(ren) remain at their current school by completing a Priority Boundary Intradistrict Transfer application. This process establishes priority for existing students to remain at their current school of attendance.

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

Students enrolled as of the 25/26 school year are eligible to apply for a Boundary Intradistrict Transfer to remain at their current school of attendance.

Younger siblings who are not yet school aged, may also be eligible to be grandfathered if the parent/guardian lists the younger sibling on the Boundary Intradistrict Transfer application.

Grandfathered students are still subject to overflow, just like all resident students. Overflow decisions are based on the student’s date of enrollment. Siblings do not receive priority.

View the MUSD "Grandfathering" memo

The Boundary Intra District Transfer Application, also known as the "Grandfathering" form, will need to be turned in to the school site or District Office by March 2, 2026.