
Director of design and construction John Chadwick talks with parents about the renderings that came from the feasibility study.
APS is facing increased enrollment for the foreseeable future. Since 2006, enrollment has grown by 3,394 students, or 18 percent in five years. Because of the growing enrollment, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find space to accommodate the increasing number of students.
By 2013, there will be over 800 more students than available seats. By 2016, APS faces an even greater shortage of 3,400 seats. To plan for the future, APS has been using a variety of solutions to create additional classroom space, including adding relocatable classrooms at a number of schools until more permanent solutions can be implemented.
“Over the last several years, we have been aggressive in our approach to maximize the capacity of existing facilities,” said Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy. “However, even with the steps we have taken to this point, we will continue to require creative solutions to the ever-growing demand for space in our schools.”
In 2009, the School Board adopted the Progressive Planning Model (PPM) framework, a step-wise approach to developing additional capacity throughout the system. The PPM framework was developed after much community input and through a study with MGT of America, planning consultants.
APS has already implemented many of the initial steps of the PPM. The next measures for adding system-wide capacity will be to build additional space on current APS sites or acquire (through lease or purchase) new sites and/or facilities to build or rent space for instruction.
To assist the School Board in developing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which includes capacity-building projects, APS has engaged Decision Lens, a local software-solutions company. The Decision Lens software and process will help evaluate capital solutions based on pre-determined School Board criteria.

Facilities planner Alison Denton answers a parent’s question at the Nov. 29 community update.
In October, APS held the first of two forums that provided an overview to parents and the community about the process to develop an action plan that addresses the current and future capacity needs for the school division. The first forum outlined the plan to conduct feasibility studies at 16 APS locations in order to determine options available on APS property. The second forum provided the community with the results of the completed feasibility studies.
The feasibility studies helped determine the maximum reasonable capacity as well as the impact on core spaces, parking and open space. The studies also looked at the options in small, medium and large capacity schools for additions, stand alone buildings, and/or new schools.
The timing of these additions will depend on many factors and construction will likely not start before 2013. Communities will be engaged during the design process.
There will be additional community updates in January and February, and more School Board work sessions will be scheduled as needed for the spring. In May, the Superintendent will present his proposed six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). A public hearing is also planned for May and the Board is expected to act on the CIP in late May.
For more information on the Capacity Planning Process, visit www.apsva.us/capacity.
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