LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A major imbalance inside Jefferson County Public Schools shows some buildings bursting at the seams with students while others sit half empty.
The district wants to redraw the boundary lines for Echo Trail Middle School starting next school year. But Echo Trail isn’t the only JCPS school feeling crowded — it’s not even at the top of the list.
WDRB reviewed district data comparing how many students are enrolled this August versus each building’s ideal capacity. The numbers show nearly 30 schools are over capacity, while more than 20 are less than 60% full.
At the top of the overcrowded list is Atherton High School, running 120% of capacity — about 150 more students than the building was built for.
Then comes Ramsey Middle at 117%, followed by Echo Trail Middle at 114%. Several elementary schools — St. Matthews, Medora, Fern Creek, and Lowe — are also over capacity.
On the other end, some schools have plenty of empty seats.
Western High School has space for more than 1,400 students but only about 400 are enrolled. McFerran Preparatory Academy is around 40% full, and Maupin, Shelby Academy, Coleridge-Taylor, and Zachary Taylor are all less than half full.
District leaders said cuts to magnet busing have led to more students staying at their neighborhood schools than projections made before bussing cuts expected.
The data the district uses to draw boundaries projects years in advance, and district leaders say just because a school is over or under crowded now, that doesn't mean it will be in the future.Â
The district says no additional boundary changes will be proposed this school year.
Parents can search their child’s school below:
More JCPS Coverage:
Parents at Echo Trail Middle School accuse JCPS of hiding plan to change boundaries
New database shows hundreds of weapons seized at Louisville schools in the last year
New JCPS middle school already overcrowded as proposed boundary change sparks pushback
Unseen interview with former JCPS superintendent raises questions about district's budget crisis
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