What are the new elementary school boundaries?
Renton School Board has approved these new school boundaries for the new Hilltop Heritage Elementary School and six nearby elementary schools.
Which students are affected by the new elementary school boundaries?
Boundaries are changing for students and families in the schools below. Affected students in grades K-4 will move to their new school beginning August 30, 2023 (Sept. 5 for kindergarten students). Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) will continue to receive specialized instruction and related services at their newly-assigned schools, unless otherwise communicated by the Special Education Department.
- Hazelwood Elementary
- Highlands Elementary
- Honey Dew Elementary
- Kennydale Elementary
- Maplewood Heights Elementary
- Sierra Heights Elementary
Are there changes to middle or high school boundaries?
There are no changes to middle and high school boundaries.
Do I have to do anything like transfer student records to new school?
No. Families do not need to transfer school records to the new school. The district will ensure schools have the correct records at the student's new school.
How are you communicating the new elementary school boundaries to families?
We sent a direct email in the family's home language on March 20, 2023 to all families whose elementary school boundary has changed. We will also mail a letter in the family's home language by the end of March.
Can I remain at my current elementary school?
Families whose school boundaries change may request to have only their 5th-grade student (current 4th-grader) remain at their current elementary school during the 2023-2024 school year. IMPORTANT NOTE: Families who choose to have their 5th-grader remain at their current school must make this request to their current school by Friday, April 14. These families will need to provide their own transportation to school next school year.
Students enrolled in the Discovery program at Kennydale Elementary will remain in that school and program.
We will not be able to allow students other than 5th-graders to remain in their current school, or allow families to transfer back to their previous school this spring, as we'll need to make teacher and staffing changes to accommodate the new student populations at each school. Families interested in remaining at their current school may apply for an Intra-district or Choice Transfer for 2023-24. Students will begin the school year at their assigned school on August 30, 2023. Families will not be notified of acceptance/denial of intra-district transfer until after the first 2 weeks of school.
Will transportation be provided for students to their newly-assigned elementary school?
Renton School District provides transportation for students who live within their school attendance area but outside the elementary school’s one-mile walk zone. Additional consideration is given to students with special needs. Eligible students are provided service beyond the walk boundary. Bus route and pick-up/drop-off information is emailed to families a few days prior to the start of the school year. For questions or concerns about school bus stops and routes, please contact Transportation Routing: Transportation.Routing@rentonschools.us.
What information and data did the Elementary Boundary Review Committee use to create the boundary proposals?
An Elementary Boundary Review Committee, made up of majority (10) family members from the six impacted schools, school principals, and support staff, spent months considering many important factors as they worked to develop new boundaries to balance enrollment/capacity of the schools, reduce (but not necessarily eliminate) use of portables, and balance each school’s demographics and programs. The committee also requested and reviewed feedback from the community (at an in-person community meeting and from all families for several weeks online) to help assess proposals and impacts. Nearly 400 families (in-person and through the online process) provided input on the boundary proposals.
The group reviewed multiple data points to create the elementary school boundaries proposals:
- neighborhood cohesiveness
- safe student walking routes
- current and future school capacity
- regional population data
- school enrollment projections
- new housing/apartment developments
- school bus transportation routes
- land restrictions (major roads & highways, powerlines)
- geographic mapping
