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.