Big Changes Likely On The Way For North Hills Elementary Schools

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA - Changes are in the works for North Hills School District’s elementary schools, three of which are operating at more than 90 percent capacity. Superintendent Patrick Mannarino on Monday outlined a variety of options to address the overcrowding issue and will discuss them with school directors at the board’s Nov. 7 meeting.

“Currently, we are faced with what I call a ‘good problem,’” Mannarino stated in a letter to district parents. “Our elementary student population climbed to 2,546 students this school year, and we have reached the highest elementary enrollment number since the 1997-98 school year. This is a good problem because I believe that people are seeing and hearing the incredible things we are doing in education resulting in their decisions to choose NHSD and purchase homes in our district.”

Among the ideas being considered:

• Redistricting elementary attendance areas
• Elementary grade reconfiguration to two primary buildings (K-2) and two upper elementary buildings (3-6).
• A Ross Elementary School addition.
• A Highcliff Elementary School addition.
• Reduce full-day kindergarten to half-day kindergarten.
• Increase elementary school class size.
• District grade configuration to move sixth grade to North Hills Middle School.

Mannarino does not expect any of the potential changes to be implemented for the 2019-20 school year. But he noted the district’s enrollment is projected to grow through 2025.

Mannarino expects to make a final recommendation to pursue at the board’s Jan. 11 meeting.

Photo via Google Maps.

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