Scenarios for Rancho Elementary Boundaries on School Board's Agenda Tonight

After months of studies and meetings, scenarios for new Novato school boundaries, including a look at options for will be presented at the tonight at 7 p.m. at the district offices.

Under Scenario A, Rancho shifts to a neighborhood school and all the demographics of Novato elementary schools would likely adjust, reflecting the boundary’s neighborhood residents.

Rancho’s school demographics are currently 80 percent white, 5.8 percent Hispanic and 14.2 percent of other races.

Under the Scenario A proposal, the residents located with the boundary are 38 percent Hispanic and 44 percent white.

Scenario B would leave Rancho as an open enrollment school. The plan would reduce the boundary of Olive Elementary—reassigning portions of it to Lu Sutton and San Ramon and shifting portions of those schools students to Pleasant Valley Elementary.

A middle ground option of Scenario C would set out a smaller neighborhood boundary for Rancho Elementary and provide enrollment space for both neighborhood and non-neighborhood students.

Portions of Lynwood, Lu Sutton and Olive elementary students would be assigned to Rancho.

In Scenario C, the white student population residing in the area boundary is 45.5 percent white and 36 percent Hispanic.

The school district’s consultant Jack Schreder & Associates prepared the presentation.  According to the process plan outlined in the document there is still opportunity for the public to weigh-in before a final recommendation will be made to the board. Email comments on the study can be sent to boundarystudy@nusd.org.