1. Building Enrollments & Recommended Capacities
February 13, 2018

2. Elementary Schools
In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.”
The formula is 125 to 155 square feet of space per enrolled student at small elementary schools and 110 to 135 square feet of space per enrolled student at large elementary schools.
The formulas, without regard to actual usage, give a total elementary school capacity range of 7,300 to 9,000.
The midpoint is 8,150.
A small elementary school has enrollment up to 500.
A large elementary school has enrollment up to 1,000.

3. Elementary Schools
Based on Jefferson’s unique configuration that includes seven self-contained classrooms for students who qualify under autism spectrum disorder, the building’s working capacity should be reduced by 150:
Seven full-size classrooms are capped at 42 total students
if those classrooms were Kindergarten, they would hold 140 total students
if those classrooms were Grade 1, they would hold 168 total students
if those classrooms were Grades 2-3, they would hold 203 total students
if those classrooms were Grades 4-5, they would hold 217 total students
Adjusting for Jefferson’s unique usage, the District’s capacity is 8,000 – not 8,150.

4. Small Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
Enrolled
Capacity
% Filled
Bishop
504
350
144%
Churchill
250
100%
Elton Hills
525
150%
Folwell
366
300
122%
Hoover
288
115%
Lincoln
424
121%
Longfellow
330
94%
Pinewood
329
132%
Washington
341
97%
TOTAL
3,357
2,800
120%

5. Large Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
Enrolled
Capacity
% Filled
Bamber Valley
888
750
118%
Franklin
873
850
103%
Gage
708
800
89%
Gibbs
863
115%
Jefferson
623
83% 104%
Riverside Central
503
700
72%
Sunset Terrace
689
92%
TOTAL
5,147
5,200
99%
Due to the seven self-contained classrooms for students who qualify under autism spectrum disorder intensive program located within Jefferson Elementary School, it is not possible to reach capacity based on the standard square footage calculation. Seven full-size classrooms are dedicated to six students in each room. The capacity has been lowered by 150 to account for this intensive program.

6. All Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
Enrolled
Capacity
% Filled
Total of Small
3,357
2,800
120%
Total of Large
5,147
5,200
99%
TOTAL
8,504
8,000
106%

7. Elementary Schools Current enrollment is 8,504.
Projections range from 8,400 to 8,700 through , based on “normal” birth rates into the future.
Projections range from 8,700 to 10,400 through , based on the last five years of “average” increases in elementary student enrollment numbers.

8. Elementary Schools
Capacity is 8,000 

9. Elementary Schools
What were the numbers before construction of the most recent elementary school?
On September 25, 2007, at 102% average capacity, voters approved borrowing $17.4 million to construct a new elementary school north of 55th Street NW and west of 50th Avenue NW.
Yes: 73.9%
No: 26.1%
In October 2009, Gibbs was open, and total elementary school enrollment increased to 7,728. Average capacity declined to 96% with the new school open.
Without Gibbs opening, elementary schools would have been enrolled at 105% average capacity, with Gage, Sunset Terrace, and Bamber Valley needing adjustment.

10. Elementary Schools
Why has their not been any planning for a new school in NW?
At 106% average capacity, schools are more full than they were when a public vote was last held to approve the newest elementary school in NW (Gibbs).
Planning documents back to 2003 indicated the District would need to build a new school somewhere between years 2011 and 2014 in an approximate location of 50th Avenue NW and Valleyhigh Drive NW.
District officials prioritized using buildings to full capacity before asking for more taxpayer dollars in a referendum election.
Mighty Oaks Early Learning School opened in January 2017 and Hoover Early Learning School will open in August 2018 for the purpose of consolidating early childhood special education programs and reducing enrollment at some elementary schools.

11. Middle Schools
In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.”
The formula is 170 to 200 square feet of space per enrolled student at small middle school and 160 to 190 square feet of space per enrolled student at large middle schools.
The formulas give a total middle school capacity range of 3,100 to 3,700.
The midpoint is 3,400.
A small middle school has enrollment up to 500.
A large middle school has enrollment up to 1,000.

12. (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
Middle Schools
(using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
School
Enrolled
Capacity
% Filled
Friedell
461
350
132%
John Adams
1,137
950
120%
Kellogg
922
1,000
92%
Willow Creek
1,113
1,100
101%
TOTAL
3,633
3,400
107%

13. Middle Schools
Capacity is a range of 3,100 to 3,700 according to MDE’s guidelines.
The midpoint is 3,400.
Current enrollment is 3,633.
Projections range from 3,800 to 4,000 through

14. Middle Schools
Capacity is 3,400 

15. Middle Schools
Why has their not been any planning for a new middle school?
In 2012, the Future Facilities Task Force noted that middle schools would be at capacity by the school year.
The recommendation was to pursue additional land for a new middle school.
District officials have not yet committed a funding source to secure additional land in advance of a voter approved referendum.

16. High Schools
In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.”
The formula is 170 to 190 square feet of space per enrolled student at large high schools.
The formulas give a total high school capacity range of 5,500 to 6,200.
The midpoint is 5,850.
A large high school has enrollment up to 2,000.

17. (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
High Schools
(using MDE’s midpoint as capacity)
School
Enrolled
Capacity
% Filled
ALC
370
250
148%
Century
1,518
1,650
92%
John Marshall
1,704
2,000
85%
Mayo
1,662
1,950
TOTAL
5,254
5,850
90%

18. High Schools
Capacity is a range of 5,500 to 6,200 according to MDE’s guidelines.
The midpoint is 5,850.
Current enrollment is 5,254.
Projections range from 5,600 to 6,600 through

19. High Schools
Capacity is 5,850 

20. District-Wide
Total enrollment is projected to exceed 18,000 in
Projecting enrollment is approximately 19,000 by
Based on the District’s history of projecting conservatively, these numbers are likely low because the are primarily contingent upon 2017 births in Olmsted County
Five years ago, projected enrollment was 16,856 on October 1, 2017
The real enrollment turned out to be 17,932 – 1,000+ more than projected

21. What’s Next?
Short-term solutions for balancing enrollment with capacity:
1. Proposing boundary adjustments on February 13, 2018 for to balance elementary students
Decrease Students Increase Students
Bamber Valley Churchill
Elton Hills Hoover
Gibbs Riverside
Jefferson Sunset Terrace
2. Opening Hoover Early Learning School in fall of 2018 to consolidate Early Childhood classrooms which will open classrooms at some elementary schools

22. What’s Next?
Long-term solutions for balancing enrollment with capacity:
Retire the debt for Century and Riverside on February 1, 2020
Seek voter approval for building construction funding in 2018 or 2019
Determine the process and people for continued facility planning

23. Where to Build?
District owns three parcels suitable for elementary school buildings (10-15 acres needed)
NW on Overland Drive at Schmidt Park: 16 acres
NE on 21st Street in Century Hills: 13 acres
SE on Collegeview Road by sports dome: 17 acres
District does not own suitable land for a middle school (25-35 acres needed) or a high school (60+ acres needed)
Staff are researching land options in NW and SW