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9th Grade Reconfiguration
Cottonwood High Network Proposed Reconfiguration
Dear Patron:
The Cottonwood High School Network is currently in the process of considering reconfiguration of 9th grade from our junior high schools to Cottonwood High. This post is being provided at the request of your respective school community councils in advance of a formal independent survey that will be conducted on the topic.
Please review the information carefully. It has been prepared directly by school administrators and community council members. It is intended to provide a vision and understanding of the impact of reconfiguration on your schools.
While the District has not “forced” networks to adopt 9th grade reconfiguration, the District supports communities who desire to implement this model. We continue to work with individual networks to provide information to address concerns to ensure that communities are empowered with good information to make the best decision for their schools and children.
If you have questions that are not addressed in this post, email your question to supsblog@graniteschools.org and we will respond to you directly. We also encourage you to take questions to your school administrators and community council parents.
Our goal is to provide students in Granite District, an individualized educational experience that meets their academic needs and interests. Thanks for your support.
Sincerely, Dr. Rich K. Nye
Superintendent, Granite School District
Reconfiguration Background
Several years ago, the Granite Board of Education and Administration opened the door for secondary school community councils to consider and request the opportunity to reconfigure secondary schools to a traditional 7-8 and 9-12 model. This configuration is utilized in roughly 80% of secondary schools nationwide and locally in Canyons and Salt Lake School Districts as well as other rural districts.
Three other high school networks within Granite (Granger, Kearns, Hunter) have or will transition to this model and two others are currently considering reconfiguration similar to our community. It is important to understand that historically, our current grade configuration is based on significant student growth from 1970 – 1990 and the ability to house students, as opposed to a configuration that makes academic/educational sense. This is why high schools in our district and other school districts, such as Canyons and Salt Lake School District, have reverted to the 9-12 configuration.
The basis for considering reconfiguration is based on a sound academic data that indicates tremendous benefits to students as they prepare for college and career including:
- Fewer Transitions: All four high school years will occur in consecutive years in one setting. Currently, 8th grade students transition to high school at the junior high, then physically transition again when they move to the high school for 10th grade.
- Comprehensive Counseling: Students in the 9-12 configuration receive all-inclusive guidance from a counselor who provides support from the beginning to the end of their high school career resulting in higher graduation rates and less dropouts.
- Program consistency and rigor: This configuration would allow all 9th grade students access to the Granite Technical Institute (GTI), AP courses, and other higher level academic and elective courses. Currently, only students whose parents can provide transportation can access these programs. Additionally, other programmatic, activity and athletic opportunities would improve for 9th grade students including access to higher-level coursework and arts programs and Freshman sports teams.
- Consistent mature student behavior and academic expectations.
7-8 students would also benefit from enrollment in a true “middle school,” model and philosophy. Without the concern of having to offer high school level requirements, the master schedule lends itself better for teacher teaming and cross-curricular instruction. Additionally, junior high’s can focus more on developmentally appropriate and responsive instruction and services.
School Visions
Cottonwood High is dedicated to creating a safe, positive, and accessible learning environment in which students can develop the essential skills needed to become successful. In order to more effectively create this environment, Cottonwood believes it is beneficial to integrate 9th graders academically and physically into the high school. 9th grade often coincides with adolescent changes including decreased parental supervision, an increase in peer influence, and an added emphasis or focus on graduation and post high school pursuits. These changes and an increased rigor in academic studies often complicate the transition when 9th grade is in the junior high as opposed to the high school.
For these reasons, Cottonwood High School recommends and supports 9th grade reconfiguration. With an increased focus on creating college and career ready graduates, Cottonwood High School believes that reconfiguration provides the greatest opportunities for all students.
Cottonwood High Logistics and Vision
A 9-12 configuration of at Cottonwood using current enrollment figures would place our population at slightly over 2,000 students.This takes into account the recent loss of the Bennion Junior High feeder boundary to Cottonwood from the Taylorsville area.
The District Architectural, Engineering, and Construction Departments have reviewed our building configuration. It was determined that with classroom scheduling, creating labs, and new classrooms, Cottonwood CAN house the 9th grade without any additional relocatable classrooms and WITHOUT impacting AMES Charter School. This will require some minor capital improvements, some part-time traveling teachers, and more efficient classroom usage.
- We envision a portion of our building dedicated to 9th grade Language Arts, Social Science, and Math classes all in the same geographical area, currently 9 rooms in the Math Area.
- All 9th graders could be fully integrated into the current structure with enough classrooms available in all subject areas based on preference.
- 9th grade offerings would include: Biology, Honors Biology, Earth Systems, Secondary 1, Honors secondary 1, English 9 Fundamentals, English 9 Core, English 9 Honors, Geography, and A Geography. Elective offerings would increase and would include subjects in CTE Business, CTE Industrial, Fine Arts, Performing Art, Science, P.E., World Languages, FACS, History, and Humanities.
Allowing Junior High Schools to focus on “middle level philosophy” for 7th and 8th graders will provide a distinct advantage. By not having to offer high school requirements, the master schedule lends itself better for true teaming and cross-curricular instruction. Both schools will be able to focus on developmentally appropriate and responsive instruction and services.
Both junior high schools are currently considering a switch to a “5×5” block schedule, meaning students would attend 5 periods every other day for a total of 10 periods. Core SAGE tested subjects of Language Arts, Math, and Science would be double blocked, meaning students would attend those courses every day. That leaves 6 periods for Social Studies and electives. The shift would allow for more instruction time in the SAGE subjects, while not affecting or even increasing the number of periods left for electives. While nearly doubling the instruction time for Math, English, and Science, it would reduce the instruction time for electives by approximately 15%.
Currently, most instructional curriculum, materials and methodologies are specific to middle level grades 7-8 and shift focus at 9-12 (i.e. Digits Math 7-8 vs. Sec. Math 1-3). Reconfiguration would allow teachers, counselors and administration to concentrate efforts more singularly focused on middle level student needs, methodologies, school climate and services. Mixed grade level classes (i.e. World language, Art, PE with 9th etc.) would become single grade or combined 7-8 classes based on community input and demand.
Bonneville Junior Logistics and Vision
Bonneville Junior will likely maintain a similar 7-8 enrollment through 2016 with perhaps a small (20-30 student) increase of students through the Chinese Immersion Program by 2016-17.
Currently all teachers at Bonneville are full time except one .5 Resource, .5 Utah Studies and a shared Chinese teacher with Bennion Junior. Shared teacher contracts can be difficult since Bonneville is one of only three schools with 7 periods. A change to a 5×5 block would closely match 12 junior highs and all high schools and allow for improved teacher sharing for electives and arts programs. See the below chart for a complete projected enrollment.
With reconfiguration, the performing arts will be impacted and efforts redirected towards teaching more beginning level courses. Drama and Choral would shift to a 7-8 level performance model providing additional opportunities for 7th grade participation and 8th grade student leadership roles. This means that the school’s annual theatrical and other art and music productions would be staffed by 7-8 students as opposed to mainly 9th grade students as they are currently. Programs would potentially be staffed by a full time or shared teacher based on community input and program demand.
Current 7-8 schools have increased their intramural sports programs for all students, but currently do not have interschool sports. The possibility exists to have a hybrid intramural program with playoffs or some 7-8 interschool teams as more schools continue to switch to a 7-8 configuration. Intramurals offer more opportunities for a greater number of students but does lack the more intense team coaching found in current programs. However, as more schools in the valley convert to a 7-8 model, it is anticipated that competitive leagues will provide our 7-8 populations enhanced opportunities for interschool and district competition.
Granite Park Junior Logistics and Vision
Granite Park has already lost around 20% of its 9th graders, as their home school is Granger High, which has already configured to the 9-12 model.
Granite Park is already operating an intermural sports model and does not currently compete against other schools. This program better meets the needs of our student population and allows for greater participation opportunities for all students. For example, instead of having a basketball team of only 15 kids, we have over 100 kids that participate. The disadvantage is the lack of intense coaching and competitive opportunities with other schools. However, this will change as more schools switch to a 7-8 model and interschool competition increases.
With the loss of 9th grade, we anticipate that we would likely retain one music teacher, and offer a combination of both instrumental and choral offerings. Comparable to Bonneville, we anticipate the loss of advanced musical opportunities, as those programs would transition to the high school with the 9th grade. In turn, we would offer more beginning courses.
Granite Park currently has 9 portable classrooms located on the blacktop east of the main building. Reconfiguration would allow for Granite Park to have all but two of the classrooms housed in the main building. It would also free up blacktop space for activities during lunchtime and P.E. classes.
From Granite Park’s perspective, the ability to focus on middle level philosophy under a 7-8 model will benefit kids. This outweighs the challenges and concerns of losing 9th grade population. This is particularly true since Granite Park has already lost a significant portion of 9th graders to Granger High as our current boundaries include West Valley City students.
Frequently Asked Questions and Concerns
In the process of reconfiguration, one of the challenges is reassigning teachers. For example, it may be difficult to exactly match the teachers leaving Granite Park and Bonneville to Cottonwood. While core classes typically are easier to transition, electives don’t always line up as well. This often requires expanding placement to other schools within the district. However, in the past 3 reconfiguration processes in other networks, not a single teacher or staff member have lost their position and have always been offered multiple opportunities for placement.
Many parents of 9th grade students feel insecure about their child’s success in an environment where older students are present. The reality is that the bulk of these concerns can and should be addressed by families and not by the school. However, as a result of reconfiguration in other communities, we have found the following:
- Incidents of bullying have actually subsided at both the junior high and high school level. Additionally, 9th grade students appear to “mature” in the high school environment and data clearly indicates a reduction in tardies and absenteeism for 9th grade students in the high school as opposed to the junior high.
- There is no data to suggest that teenage pregnancy rates increase with the presence of 9th grade in the high school. While there are situations where older students fraternize romantically with younger students, this already occurs in our current configuration and correlates more directly with specific students and families and their individual standards rather than a particular school configuration model.
- Parents concerned with younger students being introduced to dating should realize that schools do not establish or maintain those standards or rules. While schools do provide community desired activities (including dances), families are the appropriate place for the enforcement of rules regarding participation in such activities.
Could 6th grade be brought to the Junior High School to offset the decrease in enrollment at the junior high level? While there is not any data to suggest an academic advantage to a 6-8 model, the District is open to this suggestion as a way to increase FTE and programmatic opportunities at the junior high level.
Cottonwood Network Projected Resident Enrollment
The following charts outline the anticipated enrollment if reconfiguration were to be approved for the 2016-2017 school year. These projections are based on current resident students that live within these school boundaries. Many other factors impact actual enrollment such as permits in and out of district schools, as well as permits from outside the district boundaries.
| Bonneville Jr. Projections | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-2016 School Year | 7th | 8th | 9th | Total |
| Bonneville Jr. High w/o 9th Grade | 288 | 271 | 559 | |
| Bonneville Jr. High with 9th Grade | 288 | 271 | 293 | 852 |
| 2016-2017 School Year | ||||
| Bonneville Jr. High w/o 9th Grade | 342 | 288 | 630 | |
| Bonneville Jr. High with 9th Grade | 342 | 288 | 271 | 901 |
| Granite Park Jr. High Projections | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-2016 School Year | 7th | 8th | 9th | Total |
| Granite Park Jr. High w/o 9th Grade | 423 | 370 | 793 | |
| Granite Park Jr. High with 9th Grade | 423 | 370 | 327 | 1120 |
| 2016-2017 School Year | ||||
| Granite Park Jr. High w/o 9th Grade | 437 | 423 | 860 | |
| Granite Park Jr. High with 9th Grade | 437 | 423 | 370 | 1230 |
| Cottonwood High Resident Projections | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-2016 School Year | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | Total |
| Cottonwood High w/o 9th Grade | 531 | 479 | 535 | 1545 | |
| Cottonwood High with 9th Grade | 534 | 531 | 479 | 535 | 2079 |
| 2016-2017 School Year | |||||
| Cottonwood High w/o 9th Grade | 534 | 534 | 479 | 1544 | |
| Cottonwood High with 9th Grade | 541 | 534 | 531 | 479 | 2085 |
Process of Reconfiguration
Reconfiguration is a community decision. As school community council’s, we are currently studying the impacts of reconfiguration and educating our community on these issues.
As community meetings have already been held, the next step will be a formal survey completed by a contractor with an appropriate survey sample size of our patrons to determine the level of support for reconfiguration.
If a formal independent survey indicates community support, the individual school community councils will then proceed to vote on reconfiguration. If that were successful, the council’s would then officially petition the Board of Education for reconfiguration.
Again, we appreciate your review of this important information and look forward to reviewing data from the independent survey to be completed in March.
Sincerely,
School Community Councils and Principals at Cottonwood High, Bonneville Junior and Granite Park Junior
Ninth Grade Reconfiguration FAQ’s – Cottonwood Network
Why is Cottonwood High School considering grade reconfiguration or adding the 9th grade?
Over the past several years, several members of the community approached various District and school representatives, including community councils, expressing interest in looking into the benefits and/or possibility of bringing 9th grade students to Cottonwood High School.
Why is this being considered?
This reconfiguration is being studied as a result of a community request. The district feels strongly that such decisions should be made at the local/community level. The School Community Council members (made up of parents, teachers, and administrators throughout the Cottonwood High network) have requested the study. The district is responding to the communities’ request.
What are some of the potential benefits to bringing 9th grade students to Cottonwood High?
There are many potential benefits to having the 9th grade at the high school, which include increased opportunities for academics and extra-curricular activities. For example, students that have wanted to take accelerated or advanced classes not available at the Junior High would have the ability to do so. Students may be able to graduate earlier and/or gain access to more college level courses. Administrators, teachers, counselors, and support staff would also be able to provide interventions and support earlier to students that may struggle academically or socially. Research shows students may be less inclined to drop out or fall behind. In addition, transitioning to high school in 9th grade may reinforce the fact that “9th grade counts” for college admission, graduation, and scholarships.
Are there any benefits at the Jr. High level to moving 9th grade students to Cottonwood High?
Junior high schools with a 7-8 configuration may be better able to focus on their mission of high school preparation rather than dividing attention between “noncredit earning” students and “credit earning” students.
Is there enough room to add 9th graders to Cottonwood High? Aren’t there already too many students? Would the 9th graders be relegated to portables? How would Cottonwood High be able to accommodate more students?
Excluding AMES, Cottonwood High currently houses 1,450 students. AMES accounts for another 500 students. According to a District formula, Cottonwood is currently at 79% capacity. There are currently five locatable/portable classrooms being used at Cottonwood High. These portables were installed upon the closure of Granite High school and were installed for use by specific programs stemming from the Granite High closure. Over the last five years, Cottonwood’s population (excluding AMES) has ranged from 1,450 to 1,588 students.
Physical facility planning and perhaps some classroom modifications would be determined by the Cottonwood High administration.
How many more students would Cottonwood High School have to accommodate?
Based on 9th grade students from Bonneville Jr. and Granite Park Jr., it is anticipated that Cottonwood High’s enrollment would increase by approximately 350 to 400 students.
What will happen to the AMES program at Cottonwood?
There is currently no indication that the AMES program (AMES is a joint Granite District/S.L. District Charter School that began at Cottonwood in 2003) will be modified or relocated away from the Cottonwood High School campus. The Cottonwood High Community Council is actively seeking opportunities for AMES and Cottonwood High to work together to provide additional opportunities to students from both schools.
Currently, what is the class size limit? What size will classes increase to? Will it decrease a teacher’s ability to teach effectively with an influx of students?
Overall, individual class sizes would not change in the event of a reconfiguration. The increase of new students would be offset by teachers and staff who would move to Cottonwood High from other schools that have reduced staff, and/or by hiring new teachers.
What would the student to teacher ratio be?
The current FTE (full-time equivalent) ratio as set by the district is 28.25. This means that a school with 1,000 students would be given funds to hire 35 teachers (1000/28.25 = 35.39). The FTE ratio would not be modified in connection with a reconfiguration.
Why put 9th graders in a new school where there are seniors and also 9th graders that are still learning about themselves? They are still kids, why not give them time to grow before entering high school.
Social development is an equally important consideration—Cottonwood High currently encourages total community participation at most activities. Junior high students currently attend various Cottonwood High activities such as sports, community wide events, musicals, concerts etc. In addition, Cottonwood High students attend many junior high events as well.
While students will always have differing levels of maturity and physical development in each grade, the current school configuration model for our high schools was not based on either academic or social criteria, but instead on necessity due to high initial growth of our school district. In most other places throughout the state and in other states, the grade 9-12 high school model is utilized. From an academic standpoint, high school credits begin in 9th grade, regardless of the school that students attend.
Why does Cottonwood High have to be the first high school to undergo such a reconfiguration?
Although Cottonwood High would be the first “East Side” High School in Granite School District to reconfigure, it would not be the first High School in the District to transition to a 9-12 configuration. Within the District, Granger High School has already transitioned to a four-year system, Kearns High will transition to grades 9-12 in fall 2014, and both Hunter High and Cottonwood High are considering a potential future change.
Surrounding districts including Salt Lake and Canyons districts already have a 9-12 configuration.
How do the 12th graders react to the 9th graders in “their school”?
Based on feedback from Granger High, which recently transitioned to a 9-12 configuration, the switch has been very positive.
Will my 14 year old (barely) son/daughter be safe with 18 year old students?
The Cottonwood High administration will continue to ensure that all students have a safe environment at school. Learning to interact with individuals of different ages is a real-world skill—having variation among groups of young people interacting together provides the opportunity to bring various kinds of knowledge and skills together and is not inconsistent with the age variance that exists at each elementary, junior high, and high school.
In addition, 9th graders have already attended certain advanced classes and participated in athletic teams/events at Cottonwood High. There have not been any problems or concerns with these 9th graders’ involvement at the High School level, nor their current attendance at the majority of evening events, games, concerts etc., which are open for both the junior high and high school students to attend at each other’s school.
If the transition was made to Cottonwood High, will freshmen courses be taught in one centralized area like the new Granger school, or will they be spread around the school like 10-12 graders?
Both options are a possibility—eventual implementation will depend on the physical facility plans that will ultimately be drawn by the Cottonwood High administration.
What programs from the Jr. High are you cutting?
All programs would still be possible – but perhaps different – all classes that are 9th only would go to Cottonwood High. Classes that are currently mixed (Art 8-9, Concert Band/Orchestra, and Spanish 2) would be 8th only – thus, such class would not be eliminated, just different. Sports programs may actually allow for more 7th and 8th graders to participate. Jr. high schools with a 7-8 configuration have boosted participation in intramural sports programs in which all students can participate. Likewise, fine arts performances such as band/orchestra, choral, musicals and plays remain in place and have allowed for additional participation by 7th and 8th graders. 9th graders currently have opportunities to participate on freshman teams or be involved in high school level programs.
If not cut entirely, what programs could be affected at the Jr. High? What about fine arts, sports, teachers/staff, etc.?
9th grade teachers would generally follow the students. Mixed level teachers would either teach just 7-8 classes, teach another subject part of the day, and/or have a shared contract with another school, perhaps Cottonwood High. No teacher would have their employment in jeopardy, but may need to change schools.
What happens to the Jr. High left half empty?
As of January 2014, Bonneville’s student population is 852. In January 2009, the population was 906. Shifting the 9th grade students to Cottonwood would reduce the school population by approximately 250-275 students. Beginning the 2015-16 school year, Bonneville will also have the Chinese Dual Immersion Program of about 30-60 additional students each year. This is going to be a 7-8 program and continuation at the HS level will be through AP classes (currently only at Cottonwood).
According to the Superintendent Bates, there is no plan or desire from the District to close Bonneville if the 9th grade students were transitioned to Cottonwood.
If the potential reconfiguration does not take place, could the schedule of the Jr. High Schools be changed to match the High School for activities and clubs?
Individual schools can request schedule changes directly to the board regardless of this reconfiguration proposal. However, such schedule changes would not necessarily increase 9th grade opportunities for activities and clubs.
Will sports align with the students?
Generally, yes. Schools with only 7th/8th grade students are not precluded from participating in all currently offered District athletics. In fact, many 9th grade students already participate in athletics at the high school level as “freshmen.”
Currently 7-8 schools have created a robust intermural sports program wherein all students can participate in lieu of a single team that competes with other schools. Schools with a 7-8 grade configuration could also organize interschool intramural championship playoffs in the future.
How much traffic will more students make?
Since 9th graders don’t have drivers licenses, it is not expected that there would be any additional parking issues. However, there would be an expected potential increase in drop off and bus routes. The current physical configuration of Cottonwood is conducive to moderate increase in morning and afternoon traffic. Adjustments in drop off points can always be made depending on the actual impact.
From this point on, will Cottonwood be a 9-12 High School?
Under Superintendent Bates, this will continue to be a community decision, but a formal process would be required to again modify the configuration.
When will this take place?
If an adoption was approved by the School Board by June 2014, the changes would take place for the 2015-16 school year. Later approval would likely delay the change a full year.
Hunter High School Network 9th Grade Reconfiguration Meeting
Earlier this month, the superintendent hosted a informational meeting on the requested study of reconfiguring the 9th grade into Hunter High School. This was a community based request and the meeting was the first step in a proposed reconfiguration. As promised at that meeting, we have accumulated questions that were received and have posted responses for your review. We have also attached a PDF (click on the link below entitled, “Grade Reconfiguration Process) that explains the reconfiguration process. If you have additional questions that are not addressed in this post, please send those here. Thanks for your interest.
9th Grade Reconfiguration Questions and Answers:
Why is Hunter High School considering grade reconfiguration or adding the 9th grade?
Last year, the 2012-13 school year, several members of the community approached the Hunter High Community Council expressing interest in looking into the benefits and or possibility of bringing the 9th grade over to the High School. Kennedy and Hunter Junior High Schools Community Councils also had people approach them with a request to look at the possibility of the 9th grade being relocated to the High School. All three Community Councils wrote a formal letter to the Granite School District Administration requesting that a grade reconfiguration be considered for Hunter High.
What are some of the benefits to bringing the 9th grade to Hunter High?
There are many benefits to having the 9th grade at the high school but some of the biggest reasons to consider bringing the 9th grade to the high school would be for the increased opportunities for academics and extra-curricular activities. Students that have wanted to take accelerated or advanced classes would have the ability to do so. Students may be able to graduate earlier or access more college level courses. Administrators, teachers, counselors, and support staff would also be able to provide interventions and support earlier to students that may struggle academically or socially. Students may be less inclined to drop out or fall behind.
Is there enough room to add 9th graders to Hunter High? Isn’t there already too many students? Would the 9th graders fit without bringing in relos? How would Hunter High be able to accommodate more students?
There are currently 6 relocatable classrooms located at Hunter Junior High that could potentially be moved to Hunter High. Additionally, there are several rooms currently at Hunter High that are not being used as traditional classrooms. These rooms would be freed up for instructional purposes. Hunter High School is currently accommodating over 400 students that are on special permits. The number of special permits a school takes in each year is evaluated based on the ability of the school to accommodate them. The Hunter High Administration would work with the Granite School District to make sure there was adequate space to accommodate the 9th grade if the community decided to proceed with this reconfiguration proposal.
Currently, what is class size limit? What size will classes increase to? Will it decrease a teacher’s ability to teach effectively with an influx of students?
Class size is determined by local classroom capacity and programmatic offerings. This would not change in the event of a reconfiguration. Class sizes would not increase. The increase of new students would be offset by teachers and staff who would move over to Hunter High from other schools that have reduced staff, or by hiring new teachers.
What would the student to teacher ratio be?
The current FTE (full-time equivalent) ratio as set by the district is 28.25. This means that a school with 1000 students would be given funds to hire 35 teachers (1000/28.25 = 35.39). More students would mean more teachers and staff to support them.
How can it be a healthy learning environment if you add 600+ kids to lunchroom, halls, and classes?
We have larger school populations in a number of our schools. Population challenges are offset by enhanced scheduling of lunch periods and other strategies to minimize the impact.
Why would it not cost money to bring in more buildings to a parking lot?
Since that work is done in-house, the cost is minimal to relocate those resources.
WHY?
This reconfiguration is being studied as a result of a community request. The district feels strongly that such decisions should be made at the local level. The School Community Council members (made up of parents and teachers throughout the Hunter High network) have requested the study. The district is simply adhering to the communities’ request.
Why put 9th graders in a new school where there are seniors and also 9th graders are still learning about themselves, they are still kids, give them time to grow.
The current school configuration model for our high schools was not based on academic or social criteria, but instead on necessity due to high initial growth of our school district. In most other places throughout the state and in other states, the 9-12 model is recognized as providing a better, more focused high school atmosphere resulting in higher graduation rates and increased academic outcomes. There is no data that suggests that this type of configuration is detrimental to the academic and social development of 9th grade students.
How do the 12th graders react to the 9th graders in “their school”?
Throughout Salt Lake School District and in Canyons, and in our own Granger High School, there has not appeared to be any adverse reactions to having the 9th grade in the building.
What programs from the Jr. High are you cutting?
We do not anticipate our junior high schools cutting any programs. On the contrary, we are excited about providing a true middle school program for our 7th and 8th grade students that will provide them additional opportunities that may have been limited with older students in the school.
What happens to the Jr. High left half empty?
There is no data that suggest that reconfiguration would leave any of our junior high schools half empty. At best, the loss of the 9th grade would open up around 25-35% of the junior high facilities to allow for the enhancement of our 7-8 middle school programs.
If the change doesn’t take place, could the schedule of the Jr. High Schools be changed to match the High School for activities and clubs?
Individual schools can request schedule changes directly to the board regardless of this reconfiguration proposal. However, such schedule changes would not necessarily increase 9th grade opportunities for activities and clubs.
What happens to the 9th graders who are guaranteed to be in the Quest Program if they move it to Hunter High?
The Quest Program is a Gifted and Talented program that is only offered at Kennedy Junior High. Students in the program are offered three gifted and talented courses, in core subjects in their 9th grade year. We would work to accommodate these students by offering either the same GT classes or other AP or concurrent enrollment classes. There is no reason to believe this reconfiguration would disenfranchise gifted and talented students. On the contrary, additional academic and collegiate level offerings for 9th grade students would prove beneficial.
Will sports align with the students?
Yes
Why not move Kennedy Jr. to Kearns High?
A boundary reconfiguration is not needed, nor have any communities requested it. If the reconfiguration proposal were to succeed, both Kearns and Hunter High Schools would both have 9-12 populations. Any student can currently special permit to the school of their choice.
How much traffic will more students make?
Since 9th graders don’t have drivers licenses, it is not expected that there would be any additional parking issues. However, there would be an expected increase in drop off and bus routes. The current physical configuration of Hunter is conducive to moderate increase in morning and afternoon traffic. Adjustments in drop off points can always be made depending on the actual impact.
From this point on, will Hunter be a 9-12 High School?
No, the community will make this decision.
When will this take place?
The earliest this proposal could be adopted would be for the fall of 2015.
How will it affect students on permit? How will it affect future permits and how many can be accepted?
There are currently 400 permits to Hunter High. These could potentially be capped based on full 9-12 enrollment.
Why not a new school?
Hunter High is one of our newest facilities in the district. A new school building is not needed to facilitate a 9-12 reconfiguration.
Can you split high schools? (Granger, Kearns, Hunter)
We would need more information on your question in order to answer it. It is not understood what you are asking.
Additional questions not addressed in this post can be submitted here.