Important Update to SPS Growth Boundary Proposal

Last night the Seattle School Board approved the final Growth Boundaries proposal. 

IMPACTS TO QAE:
1) Queen Anne Elementary's geo-zone will be expanded to cover both Hay and Coe boundary areas.  A map can be found here on page 88.
Faced with significant over-enrollment in Queen Anne elementary schools, the district felt it necessary to adjust QAE's geo-zone to address the situation. This change preserves our neighborhood walking zone, but allows for greater enrollment relief for both Coe and Hay.  While the larger geo-zone has the potential to impact the geographic composition of our students (higher % of QA kids), it will not change our enrollment numbers. We will retain the same numbers of seats (three kindergartens); priority will be given to kids within our geo-zone, but that does not guarantee admission.  Additionally, SPS has a policy to give sibling preference.

The Seattle School Board and SPS were very clear that boundaries and geo-zones are under on-going review and revision.   QAE PTSA will continue to work with the other schools in our service area, as well as with the district, to assess enrollment demands and adjust our geo-zone as needed.
Also for clarification, QAE remains an Option School.  Neither SPS nor the School Board were interested in the outside proposal to change QAE to a neighborhood school, thanks in part to our lobbying efforts.  As an option school, our hope and charter is to provide an alternative for children throughout the McClure service area and the city whose needs are not being met by their neighborhood school.

2) No schools have been designated to house the self contained Special Education program under the approved Growth Boundaries Plan. (QAE had been selected to house this program in the original proposal).  SPS is waiting for more information before placing the self-contained Special Education program.

3) QAE is (still) not on the list for an interim school site during BEX construction.  QAE PTSA will continue to encourage SPS to plan for an interim site for QAE students during BEX construction, as well as to advocate for specific short-term capacity mitigation measures as we build out to full capacity over the next three years.


The QAE PTSA is very grateful to the many parents who advocated on behalf of our school and community.  Your efforts and communication were heard and had an impact. 

Thank you!