Boundary Planning and Enrollment Management
Page Navigation
-
General Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions will be updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that the community receives the latest information for attendance boundaries and enrollment management.
-
Q. I am new to the southeast area of the District and my 12th grade student is zoned to Almeta Crawford High School. Which school will my student attend?
A. Students zoned to Almeta Crawford High School that will be in the 12th grade in 2024-25 will attend Ridge Point High School.
-
Q. Why are boundary changes necessary?
A. Due to the continued enrollment growth in FBISD, school boundaries are implemented to alleviate overcrowding at existing schools to ensure the effective and equitable delivery of student-centered academic programs and curriculum.
-
Q. What are feeder patterns?
A. A feeder pattern is where elementary and middle schools feed into a particular high school to ensure smooth transitions as they move from one level to the next.
-
Q. What if my student has been affected by a previous boundary change?
A. Per Policy FC(Local), students affected by a previous boundary change while attending the same level (elementary, middle, high) are eligible for an intra-district transfer, but shall not be eligible for District-provided transportation.
-
Q. What is cap and overflow?
A. Cap and overflow occurs when a campus is highly utilized and needs relief prior to an attendance boundary adjustment. During cap and overflow new students are directed to attend a nearby school or schools that have available space.
-
Q. Can I transfer my child to a campus other than the campus our address is zoned to?
A. Special Circumstance Transfers are based on specific criteria and transportation is not provided. Please see the Student Affairs webpage for further information.
-
Q. Where can I find my bus route for my address?
A. Transportation provides a Bus Route Locator to provide a specific attendance zone and bus route information for each home address.
-
Q. Where can I find the District’s Demographic Study?
A. The 2024 Demographic Study is conducted by Population and Survey Analysts and can be found here.
-
Q. What are planning units and how are they determined?
A. Planning units are geographical areas of residential developments based upon evenly distributed student population densities. Planning unit boundaries follow major roadways, natural features (creeks, etc.) and/or neighborhood boundaries. Population and Survey Analysts (PASA) projection data is modeled by Planning Unit and then aggregated to form school-level enrollment projections and future school catchment areas that allow PASA to better create options for long-range facility planning.
-
Q. How does PASA project when to include new housing and other factors into projections?
A. PASA has developed a model that incorporates numerous factors and the impact of those factors on projections. For example, new housing is included in projections based on when homes are expected to be built, sold, and occupied, with adjustments for potential delays due to economic conditions, labor shortages, or changes in developer plans. The number of students projected to occupy those new homes is based on student yield rates, which are derived by looking at comparable ratios in other comparable neighborhoods. On the other hand, alternative educational opportunities (charters, private, etc.) are factored into projections based on past enrollment shifts and anticipated new options in the district. PASA incorporates each factor differently based on years of research and the best information available collected at the time of the study.
-
Q. Why does the District demographer conduct a yearly Demographic Report for 10-year enrollment projections?
A. The Enrollment Forecast reflects the most likely scenario based on the best available information at the time of the study. PASA Demographic Studies rely on assumptions about the district’s housing market and economic conditions, analyzing how these factors influence student enrollment trends. Additionally, the forecast also considers variables such as the availability of alternative educational opportunities, birth trends, kindergarten enrollment patterns, and cohort size as students move through the grade levels, to name a few. Because these factors are constantly evolving, PASA approaches each study with a fresh perspective – ensuring that projections are based on current data rather than influenced by past forecasts.
-
Q. When new housing begins to develop, do you typically foresee an immediate increase at the lower levels or secondary?
A. The price point of new housing plays a significant role in determining the grade levels most impacted by enrollment growth. In general, new single-family housing leads to an immediate increase in student enrollment across all grade levels. Lower-priced homes tend to attract younger families, resulting in a higher concentration of elementary-age children. However, exceptions exist – particularly in highly desirable high school attendance zones, where new housing developments can drive a surge in secondary-grade enrollment. Ultimately, the cost of housing influences both the age of incoming students and the overall distribution of enrollment growth across grade levels.
-
Q. How exactly should we understand and define "neighborhoods"?
A. Neighborhood subdivisions are defined areas with divided plots of land that make up a community of homes. Master-Planned communities are larger-scale, mixed-use residential developments. These developments provide residents with amenities such as parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, commercial enterprises like stores and restaurants, office space, and multi-family residences. Several neighborhood subdivisions are included within a master-planned community. As stated in policy FC(Local), master-planned communities are not considered neighborhoods.
