North Hills 6th grade moves to the middle school for the 2020-21 school year

On February 21, 2019 North Hills district made the decision to move the 6th grade to the middle school for the 2020-21 school year. 

Before they made that decision the elementary schools were kindergarten – 6th grade. However due to the overcrowding issue at the elementary schools that will be changing. The North Hills website states “Our elementary student population climbed to 2,546 students for the 2018-19 school year, and the populations has reached the highest elementary enrollment number since the 1997-98 school year. This school year, two elementary buildings are operating at greater than 98% capacity and a third is operating at 93% capacity.” 

In these types of situations it is hard to accommodate everyone.  North Hills has a FAQs section on their website for all parents and students to access. Some of the big changes are:

Students will follow a 5 day schedule

Music will be 3 days a week

Physical Education 2 days per week

English and math will be 85 mins per day, all other classes will be 40 mins

Each student will be paired with a teacher pair

All current elementary schools will be combined

6th graders can participate in the middle school musical and middle school clubs

When talking to parents about the issue, they are all for it. “It just makes sense” says a parent of an incoming 6th grader. When she was asked how North Hills is handling the transition she said “North Hills has very good communication and they make parents and students feel like they can ask any question.” 

She also went on to say that North Hills is making sure the 2019-2020 year is special not only for the 6th graders but the 5th grade as well. Another parent says that moving the 6th grade is only a temporary fix for the overcrowding issue. She is worried about what will happen when all of the kids get to the high school. 

When adding more kids to a school transportation becomes an issue. “My first concern is the potential of overcrowding of middle school buses.” said a concerned parent. North Hills said on their website that bus routes will not be changing. Even though North Hills doesn’t see an issue with transportation for next year, it is hard to tell until the first day.

Parents also said that their kids are ready for the change, “sixth grade is the right time” said one parent. Another parent went on to say “I thought it was a good idea due to the elementary schools starting to near capacity.  Most middle schools in our area are 6-7-8th grades so I did not have a problem with it at all.”