Plans for the Grade Span Reconfiguration in Abington School District have been ongoing since the 2017-2018 school year when a Superintendent's Committee regarding Secondary Programming for Reconfigured Grade Spans was formed with two subcommittees—for middle school and high school. An elementary subcommittee was later formed, all of which have included input from key stakeholder groups: administrators, teachers and staff, Board members, students, parent/guardians and community members.

The Superintendent’s Committee was established to make specific recommendations with regard to student transitions from one grade span to another (elementary to middle and middle to high), school schedules, student activities, curriculum, instruction and assessment, facilities, student services, and the continuum of programming from grades K through 12.

For more information, please consult the following presentations to the Board of School Directors:

• January 2022 (Secondary Program Changes for 2022-2023)

• October 2021 (School Name Change Resolution)

• October 2021 (Superintendent's Elementary Sub-Committee Regarding Reconfigured Grade Spans Update)

• September 2021 (Superintendent's Secondary Sub-Committee Regarding Reconfigured Grade Spans Update)

• March 2021 (Superintendent's Committee regarding Secondary Programming for Reconfigured Grade Spans)

• November 2020 (K-12 Comprehensive Counseling Plan)

• December 2019 (Abington School District Enrollment Projections - 2019 Update from the Montgomery County Planning Commission)

• February 2019 (Superintendent's Committee regarding Secondary Programming for Reconfigured Grade Spans)

• January 2018 (Abington Senior High School Additions and Renovations)

Additional information about the Abington Senior High School Additions and Renovations Project is available via the ASD website.

• October 13, 2021 - Superintendent Letter

• September 29, 2021 - Superintendent Letter

What is the ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration?

Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, Abington School District’s nine schools will be reconfigured in regard to the grades they serve.

• As a result of the expanded Abington Senior High School, the building will now accommodate grades 9-12 (currently ASHS serves grades 10-12).

• With grade 9 moving up a building, Abington Junior High School will become Abington Middle School and will now serve grades 6-8 (currently AJHS serves grades 7-9).

• To respond to the District’s projected enrollment growth, much-needed classroom space will now be available in all seven ASD elementary schools, which will now be designated for grades K-5 (currently the elementary schools are K-6).

Click here for an infographic that illustrates these changes.

Who will be impacted by the ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration?

• This reconfiguration applies to all nine Abington School District schools.

• The transition will more immediately impact students in the Classes of 2023-2029 (grades 5 and above, with the exception of current seniors).

• Students currently in grades 4 or lower (Classes of 2030 and beyond) will follow the reconfigured format throughout the remainder of their time in Abington School District.

• A select number of teachers and staff will also be impacted. The Office of Human Resources is working to shift positions accordingly, which will mainly involve moving some faculty from the elementary to secondary level in accordance with their certifications, as well as, teachers from the Junior High to the Senior High.

Why did Abington School District decide to reconfigure its schools’ grade spans?

There were a number of reasons why Abington School District embarked on this initiative, which are detailed in past presentations to the Board of School Directors. They include:

• Sustained enrollment growth in the decade prior to the decision to expand Abington Senior High School, as well as, additional growth projected for the near future from the Montgomery County Planning Commission. The majority of Abington School District’s elementary schools were already approaching maximum capacity of students.

• This is the first major addition and renovation to the original 1956 Abington Senior High School building in two decades. More than 90 percent of the building has been renovated (or is currently undergoing renovations) since the groundbreaking in November 2018.

• In conjunction with the high school project and ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration, a reimagined curriculum will be introduced at the Abington Senior High School level beginning next year, which includes a college and career Pathways Program for grades 9-12, focused on the skills needed to compete in the evolving workforce and prepare students for the nation’s fastest-growing industries and jobs of the future.

What is the vision for Abington Schools as a result of the ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration?

Abington Schools will be 21st Century, state-of-the-art, innovative learning environments. Promoting student excellence, achievement, and academic exploration will ensure our students are prepared for the nation’s fastest-growing industries, and motivate the next generation of global leaders for the challenges of the future.

How did Abington School District plan and prepare for this reconfiguration?

Plans for the reconfiguration have been ongoing since the 2017-2018 school year when a Superintendent's Committee regarding Secondary Programming for Reconfigured Grade Spans was formed with two subcommittees—for middle school and high school. An elementary subcommittee was later formed, all of which have included input from key stakeholder groups: administrators, teachers and staff, Board members, students, parents/guardians and community members.

What is the timeline for this transition?

While efforts to plan for the ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration have been ongoing since the 2017-2018 school year—with various proposals and recommendations presented to the Board of School Directors over that time—administrators, teachers and staff at all levels of the District will be working with families impacted by the reconfiguration over the next year to ensure a smooth transition. The ASD Grade Span Reconfiguration will go into effect immediately at the start of the 2022-2023 school year (meaning the Class of 2029 will report to Abington Middle School on the first day of school in September 2022 and the Class of 2026 will report to Abington Senior High School).