Preparations for 2025-2026 adjustments to current school attendance boundaries are underway for Wicomico County Public Schools, following a planning process that began last June and included numerous public meetings to gather input.
The Wicomico County Board of Education unanimously approved the recommended school boundary adjustments in what had been presented as Option B. Approximately 742 students – 705 in elementary school and 37 in middle school – are affected by these school boundary adjustments, which focus on elementary school attendance areas and related secondary school feeder patterns. No adjustments were made to high school attendance areas.
In early April, the school system will send letters to the parents or guardians of the students who will attend a different school in 2025-2026 due to the school boundary adjustments. The letter will include the name or names of the affected students at that address and will provide the name of the school each student will attend next school year. After receiving the letter, parents and guardians with questions or concerns should speak with their child’s current principal in April.
Families may check the interactive online map at any time to determine if their home address is one that will have a change in school boundaries for 2025-2026. Once on the map page, type in the street address and hit enter to see the schools for that address, as well as a note about whether there are any changes to schools next year for the address.
Wicomico County Public Schools conducted the school boundary planning process with consultant Cropper GIS. The process looked at adjustments to help balance enrollment, relieve overcrowding, and use resources as equitably and efficiently as possible throughout the county. Cropper GIS outlined this process at a Board of Education work session on June 25, 2024. The process was then widely publicized to families, school system staff and the community starting in late August 2024.
Two initial public information sessions were held on Sept. 19, 2024. The School Boundary Planning Team met throughout the fall to analyze data and develop draft options. Input was taken at any time through a general feedback form online.
Two more public information sessions, this time on draft options, were held Nov. 21, 2024. A survey on draft options was conducted Nov. 21-Dec. 9, 2024. After consideration of the survey results, the team made its boundary change recommendations to Cropper GIS, which joined with staff to present the recommendations to the Board of Education on Jan. 10, 2025.
The Board of Education held a public hearing on the recommendations for school attendance boundary changes on Jan. 14, 2025. The Board approved the recommended school boundary changes during the Board meeting on Feb. 11, 2025.
All the materials from the school boundary adjustment planning process continue to be available online at https://www.wcpsboundarystudy.org/.