Fact Sheet

Portsmouth School District Redistricting Fact Sheet

Date: October 25 2024

Overview

The Portsmouth School District is currently in the process of reviewing and discussing potential redistricting plans to address enrollment disparities and future growth within our schools. These plans are still in the draft stage, and no final decisions have been made. We are committed to transparency, community involvement, and ensuring the best outcomes for all students in our district.

1. Draft Status of Current Plans

• The options presented so far are drafts and represent iterations of possible solutions. These drafts are meant to gather feedback from the community and refine our approach.

• The administration and redistricting committee are actively working on further developing these plans, considering all community input.

2. Why do we need to redistrict

• Equitable classroom space: Ensuring proportional utilization of schools will help us make the best use of our existing facilities and resources, allowing for more consistent educational experiences. Currently Little Harbour is using 19 of the 24 designed classroom spaces as primary classrooms. Dondero is using 19 of 19, plus the addition of 2 modular classrooms. New Franklin is using 15 of 16. This condition presents two problems:

  • Little Harbour is able to offer programming that the other two schools cannot because of the more generous sq footage to student ratio present in that school.

  • Dondero and New Franklin when facing “bubble” scenarios struggle to flex to accommodate without the need for expensive temporary classrooms.

• Equitable classroom space helps avoid overcrowded classrooms, ensures personalized learning, and supports a diverse range of services at each school.

• Over the past 4-5 years the redistricting strategy of the board has been to redistrict new housing developments to attempt to balance numbers (ex. West End Yards). Overall new housing has had few school age children, while older high density housing areas have increased in number of elementary aged students. 

3. Why is now the right time

• At the end of 2023/2024 school year Dondero class sizes had swelled to a point where the administration and board agreed that modular classrooms should be implemented for 2024/2025. At that time the redistricting committee was “re-established” to find more permanent long term solutions.

• Additional growth is possible, especially in areas within the current Dondero catchment. The redistricting will help us manage this growth more effectively and avoid reliance on temporary solutions like modular classrooms

  • Rising Kinder Data1 shows incoming distributions to be 39.22% for DON, 32.35% for LHS, and 28.43% for NFS. This shows continued skewed distribution toward Dondero

• NFS is currently experiencing significant inequity in space utilization

  • A supply closet off of the gym is used for:

    • Academic intervention space Tuesday-Friday

    • Seacoast Mental Health counseling Mondays

  • A supply closet off of the 1st grade hallway is used for:

    • English as a Second Language instruction

    • MC3 Office

    • Storage

  • Multipurpose Room/Cafetaria is used for:

    • Academic Interventions 8:30-9:00

    • Lunches 11-1

    • Book Club

4. Commitment to School Choice and Stability

• We understand and empathize with the concerns about transitioning students to new schools. The administration is actively working on solidifying "grandfathering" options that will allow families to keep their children in their current schools if desired.

• Our goal is to offer choices that balance stability for students and families with the need for equitable distribution of resources.

5. Rationale for Equitable Classroom Space

• Striving for equitable classroom space ensures that all students in the district receive equal access to educational resources and opportunities.

• By balancing class sizes and freeing up space across all schools, we can support specialized programs like counseling, intervention, and enrichment activities, which benefit the entire student body.

• Equitable classroom space helps avoid overcrowded classrooms, ensures personalized learning, and supports a diverse range of services at each school.

6. Equity and Diversity Considerations

• Our goal is to be sensitive to the socio-economic diversity of our schools. This will be an important factor as we refine the redistricting options.

• We are also working to ensure that any changes to school zoning consider the availability of transportation and after-school care so that all families have access to essential services, regardless of location.

7. Community Engagement and Next Steps

• We are committed to ongoing community engagement and are actively seeking feedback through forums, surveys, and direct communication.

• Further community engagement sessions are being planned to gather input on further draft options, and the feedback will be incorporated into the development of final recommendations.

• Email board and Superintendent here

8. Community Representation on the Committee

• The committee discussed having community members on the redistricting committee and it was decided that the committee itself should be made up of board members and school administrators. The committee stands by the decision.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support as we work together to create the best possible learning environment for all Portsmouth students.

“Rising Kinder Data” was provided by Dondero Principal Katherine Callahan . It is based on responses from PEEP, Children's Garden, The Treehouse School, Discovery Child Enrichment Center, Great Bay Kids' Co Inc., Kindercare, Rye Country Day, Seacoast Community School, St. Patrick's School, The Early Learning Center at Temple Israel, Little Clipper, Seacoast Community School @ Meadows, Cornerstone School, Seacoast Waldorf School, Seeds of Wonder (Kittery-nature based), and the Acorn School