Following a lengthy nine-month process, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education has passed a redistricting plan destined to shuffle around 750 students to various schools in the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. As reported by WMAR-2 News, the new schematic will affect 19 schools across diverse educational levels, including 13 elementary, three middle, and three high schools.
The changes arrive with mixed reactions. While they purportedly reduce the number of overcrowded schools from seven to a single institution, there's a downside with an increase in daily bus mileage for students, particularly at the elementary level, adding up to around 200 extra miles. The details of the transfers, as mentioned by WMAR-2 News, include major shifts like 88 students moving from Belvedere Elementary to Arnold Elementary, and high school changes wherein Crofton High will send 184 students to Arundel High.
Understanding the significance of the senior year experience, the board has allowed a clause where twelfth-grade students can opt to remain at their current school. This concession comes with a catch, as they must arrange for their own transportation, elaborated by WBAL-TV. Interested seniors are directed to online portals that will be open in December and January to make their selections.
Consequential dates loom ahead as well, with the board prepped to decide on a proposed academic calendar on December 3 for the 2026-27 year, where school could start a week earlier than the current year, on August 19, informed by the report from WBAL-TV.
