New JCPS middle school already overcrowded as proposed boundary change sparks pushback

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — One of Jefferson County Public School newest schools is already bursting at the seams.

Echo Trail Middle School, in eastern Jefferson County, was built to ease crowding, but now, just a few years in, it’s dealing with the same problem it was meant to fix.

Many JCPS parents don’t like the district’s plan to address the issue — a proposed boundary change with Crosby Middle School.

"It's one of the reasons that we initially weren't considering JCPS because it's pushing us out of our community," Lauren Frey, JCPS parent, said.

For Frey, the boundary lines are more than just lines and numbers, it’s about keeping her children close to home. In fact, she changed jobs to make it happen.

"I worked in Shelby County, and my kids went to Shelby County Public Schools, and I transferred last year so that my kids would go to school with their neighborhood friends."

But the proposed boundary change by JCPS could send her three children to Crosby Middle School, something Frey said doesn’t make sense.

Frey said she’s done her homework, even testing traffic patterns and drawing a detailed map she plans to share with JCPS.

"I think that everyone inside the Gene Snyder should go to Crosby because that's a school that is closer to their area than us out here in this area, driving in," Frey said.

Echo Trail Middle, which opened three years ago, was supposed to help relieve overcrowding, but it’s already at capacity. School board member Taylor Everett said growth in the area, and the school’s strong reputation filled classrooms faster than expected.

"They're about 109 to 110% over capacity, and if we don't change anything, they will get to 133% over capacity, which is simply just, you can't run a school with that many kids," Taylor Everett, JCPS board member said. "And essentially, just people have moved into the area more than we thought, and also a lot of kids, because Echo has been so good, left private school to go to Echo Trail."

As a result, the board will hold community meetings next week to hear directly from parents.

"I'd love to be able to share this with them," Frey said.

Frey said if the district sticks with its plan, her family might have to make some tough decisions.

"With Echo Trail being close, we really liked it, and we thought we would stay with JCPS, but now it's going to be a bigger conversation."

The two community sessions will be on Monday, Oct. 20 and Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 6-7 p.m. at Eastern High School in Middletown. There will also be a virtual link for people who can't attend in person.

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