Schools
Ridgefield Public Schools Releases Information on Aligned Feeder Model
The model creates a 50-50 split of elementary school students into East Ridge and Scotts Ridge Middle School
From the Ridgefield Public Schools
The Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2017-2018 Budget includes the implementation of the new 50-50 Aligned Feeder for incoming 6th grade students to East Ridge Middle School and Scotts Ridge Middle School. The middle school team model will continue to be used in order to maintain the high quality academic and social-emotional learning experiences for all students in both schools. District class size guidelines will continue to be followed with 6th grade classes remaining at or below the maximum of 26 students per class.
Based on enrollment projections, the district can create two 6th grade teams at both East Ridge Middle School and Scotts Ridge Middle School while remaining under class size guidelines. The impact of this shift includes the elimination of one 6th grade team at East Ridge Middle School. The Enrollment Chart below utilizes Milone & MacBroom’s projections for 2017-2018 and clearly illustrates that at ERMS two teams of 92 students each can be created at the 6th grade level. This creates average class sizes on the 6th grade teams of 23 students. A review of summer student registration and withdrawal was factored into the decision to implement the new feeder pattern. Based on historical annual changes, both East Ridge Middle School and Scotts Ridge Middle School will be able to sustain the addition of new 6th grade students without exceeding class size guidelines in 2017-2018.
As the district reviewed the entire academic program for middle school students in an aligned feeder pattern model, additional personnel dollars have been maintained in the budget to address possible enrollment increases in courses such as world languages, visual and performing arts, and physical education.
The new aligned feeder pattern will create a 50/50 split for the elementary schools feeding into the two middle schools. This will allow peer groups of 5th grade students to remain together as they transition to the middle school. Specifically, Scotland Elementary School, Barlow Mountain Elementary School, and Ridgebury Elementary School rising 5th graders will feed into Scotts Ridge Middle School. Branchville Elementary School, Farmingville Elementary School, and Veterans Park Elementary School rising 5th graders will feed into East Ridge Middle School. The implementation plan for the aligned feeder pattern is to begin with the 6th grade class effective with the 2017-2018 school year, and progress annually with the next cohort of rising 5th grade students.
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