Registration
Since last summer, the division has been diverting all new student enrollments away from Churchland Elementary School (which was 14 percent over building capacity) to Churchland Academy (which was 30 percent under capacity). At that time, the plan was to have an outside company come in by this spring to evaluate our school zones and recommend new district boundaries for the 2020-2021 school year. Due to this year’s extended school closure, that redistricting work will need to be postponed to be implemented in the 2021-2022 school year.

Through last year’s efforts, Churchland Elementary is now no longer above capacity. In addition, Churchland Academy is also right at its building capacity. Therefore, for the 2020-2021 school year, the division is going to continue this practice to ensure no school building goes back to being over capacity. For next year, new student enrollments will be diverted away from Churchland Elementary and Churchland Academy and now enrolled at Churchland Primary & Intermediate. Churchland Primary and Intermediate is being utilized because that school is 18 percent under capacity and, again, both of the other two school campuses are right at capacity.

All families registering for kindergarten will be able to be enrolled at their zoned school with no issues. This is only for new families enrolling at the school. In addition, just as in last year, families are not going to be forced to split schools. Staff will work with families individually to make sure that does not occur. Just as in last year, the division will also be providing bus transportation for families who are not attending their zoned school because of this change. 

Again, this will be the division’s practice for the 2020-21 school year. Staff will immediately begin work to secure a company to help identify better school zones for the future. Thank you for your flexibility, your understanding and for your continued support of Portsmouth Public Schools.