Why Build a New Middle School
Overcrowding at Springhouse
Springhouse Middle School, one of two middle schools serving the Parkland School District, is 170 students over its design capacity of 1100.
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The average student-to-faculty ratio at Springhouse, as of 2016, stands at 20:1, which is larger than the ratios at 85% of the USA's public middle schools. When factoring in that there are faculty members beyond teachers, such as cooks, custodians, and administrators, the actual classes your children may attend may be significantly larger, often with more than 30 other students.
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What is more worrying is that enrollment at Springhouse has continually increased the past 15 years. Furthermore, nearly all of the district's residential communities under-construction are located within Springhouse's sending region.
Continued Growth in Springhouse's Sending Region
Upper Macungie Township, including the town of Breinigsville, are the fastest-growing localities of the Parkland School District. As shown in the map to the left, all students in Parkland's fastest growing communities would attend Springhouse Middle School.
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In September 2020, Parkland plans to open its ninth elementary school in Breinigsville. These students will certainly have an exceptional educational experience in their primary-school years. However, all these students will then have to attend Springhouse for Middle School, adding to the school's overvcrowding issue.
To the right is an example of three under-construction communities in Breinigsville. Combined, they will add 711 homes to the Upper Macungie area. Importantly, all middle-school children in these three communities alone will have to attend Springhouse for middle school.
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This is only one instance of such rapid growth in Breinigsville. Several such communities can be found nearby, adding population and driving increased enrollment in Springhouse Middle School.
There is No Space for Springhouse to Expand
As show on the map to the left, Springhouse does not own much more land than is occupied by the school. Most remaining land is taken up by parking lots, sidewalks, and the bus drop-off area.
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Additionally, just to the east of the school, there is a retention pond which cannot legally be infilled. To the west lies the Winchester Heights neighborhood. Because of this, any structural expansions to Springhouse are not feasable.
Our Middle Schools are Too Far from our Students
Springhouse Middle School is located 8 miles from the quickly-growing communities of Breinigsville. Nearly all of the development taking place in the Parkland School District is more than a half-hour school bus ride from Springhouse.
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However, while Springhouse is a long drive away from Breinigsville, it is not as far as other alternatives the district offers. Orefield, the district's other middle school, is 9.5 miles away from Breinigsville.
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Parkland also owns the currently unoccupied Troxell Building, which could provide valuable space for a middle school. However, it is located directly beyond Springhouse and is 10 miles from Breinigsville.
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Why should we need to send our students to a school far from home?
Fun Fact: There are 8 middle schools (in other school districts) closer to Breinigsville than Springhouse.
We Do Not Need a New High School
Parkland High School is an amazing facility. The palace of a school produces state-winning teams in both the athletics and arts. For example, in 2015 the girl's volleyball, boy's volleyball, and softball teams won the state championships. Additionally, the school district is ranked very highly in terms of academics as well, with several students winning olympiads and research fairs.
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To build a second high school would split Parkland's amazing talent in half. We would not be state champions. We would not rank nearly as highly in academics.
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Additionally, high schools are expensive to construct. Unlike high schools, a third middle school does not require a swimming pool, stadium, or enhanced classrooms in technology and music.
The High School is Still Under Capacity
Parkland High School enrolls 3332 students in the 2016-2017 school year. The building has a capacity of 4000, so 668 more students can comfortably attend the high school before overcrowding becomes an issue. Currently, its student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1 is at the national average, and less than that of Springhouse.
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Interestingly, the high school shares its design with Neuqua Valley and Stillwater High Schools in Illinois and Minnesota, respectively. All three schools have capacities of 4000 students. Note how both Neuqua Valley and Stillwater enroll more students than Parkland, but are still below capacity.
Springhouse Middle School
Parkland High School
Far from new development
Far from new development
Enrollment under design capacity, smaller, interactive classes
Enrollment over design capacity, larger, less-interactive classes
Springhouse is the district's biggest roadblock to success. It is overcrowded and far from new development. The construction of a third middle school will improve the lives of thousands of people in the district, and will more effectively educate our future generation to be leaders in our world.