Columbia Public Schools (CPS) broke ground Monday on a new elementary school in southwest Columbia which would likely change the attendance areas of six nearby elementary schools.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the school, currently called “South Elementary” until it is officially named, took place this afternoon. Meetings began last week to determine the attendance zone boundaries of the new elementary school, which is planned to open for students for the 2016 school year.
Another new elementary school, Battle, is currently under construction and is planned to open to students for next school year.
CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said planning the attendance areas for the new elementary schools would take into consideration existing areas for nearby schools.
“The process is the same as what we use for defining high school re-districting for the entire school district to looking at middle school re-districting. Anytime we bring on a new elementary school we use the same inclusive method for re-evaluating enrollment and boundary,” Baumstark said.
CPS is planning on having final boundary scenarios for the elementary schools ready by the middle of January. Following more reviews and feedback meetings, the final presentation to the board of education is scheduled for April 2015.
Two new elementary schools
Informational hand-out from CPS about the new school
