Utica Community Schools

Questions and Answers
Building a Stronger Future

 

Since the spring, the district has been studying the future of the Heritage Junior High School/Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies. The study included input from the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC) – comprised of parents from each school - building needs assessments from our auxiliary services department, enrollment projections, the efficient use of district resources, and student access to programs and experiences that will empower their future.

The study was initiated following feedback received during the UCS Empowered Strategic Plan and the Safety and Success Bond Issue.

What are the results of the shared use study for Heritage Junior High School/Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies?

Attendance areas for junior high school students were revised to assign current and future Heritage Junior High School students to secondary schools in the immediate area. Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies will remain at the current site.

The district has also revised attendance areas for junior high school students to place the area northeast of Van Dyke and Clinton River in the Bemis Junior High/Henry Ford II High School attendance area, the area southeast of Clinton River and Van Dyke to Davis Junior High School and the area west of Van Dyke to Jeannette Junior High School.

Why are the changes necessary?

Heritage Junior High School and the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies have been sharing a facility for the past 16 years. During that time, enrollment and building needs in Heritage and GLK-UAIS have experienced significant changes. Enrollment at Heritage Junior High School is currently half of the building’s capacity while student interest in the International Baccalaureate program continues to grow. In addition, Heritage Junior High School students do not have access to the same variety of programs available at larger junior high schools.

 

What are the current and new attendance areas?

 

 

Note - The area north of M-59 has not changed. 

 

To Download a Version

• Current Version (2023-24)
• New Attendance Areas (Beginning 2024-25)

 

Why are the junior high school attendance area changes being made?

The change at Heritage Junior High School necessitated changing attendance areas for current and future students. It also was an opportunity to evaluate the pattern  of attendance boundaries in the areas. While enrollment patterns have significantly changed over these years, our attendance patterns have stayed relatively the same. The result is:

• There are several neighborhoods where students do not attend the same school as those that geographically surround them. The result is that these students are separated from their friends who may live a street over.
• There are some areas of our district where families are passing through one or two other attendance areas before they reach their child’s school.
• There are elementary schools that feed into multiple junior high schools – in some instances as many as three or four junior high schools. A long term goal is to establish as much as possible feeder patterns where students remain with their classmates throughout their K-12 education.

With the scheduled bond improvements and the decision related to Heritage/GLK-UAIS, UCS has an opportunity to address these issues over the next several years, with the greatest focus at the elementary and junior high school levels.

What is the timeline?

The Board of Education has approved adjusting the junior high attendance areas, with the changes taking effect beginning with the 2024-25 school year. Principals from receiving schools will begin reaching out to families in early December to support the transition process.  

 

How will the changes impact my school?

The following is a summary by building:

Heritage Junior High School

Current Junior High School students will follow the revised attendance areas:

• Students with families who live east of Van Dyke, and South of Clinton River will attend Davis Junior High School.
• Students who live north of Clinton River Road will attend Bemis Junior High School/Henry Ford II High School. Current 7^th graders will attend Bemis Junior High School next year and 8^th graders will attend Henry Ford II High School.
  • 9^th grade students who live in this area and are scheduled to attend Ford II High School will have the option to attend either Henry Ford II High School or Stevenson High School.

Davis Junior High School

• Students who live west of Van Dyke will attend Jeannette Junior High School.
• Students who live north of Clinton River Road and east of Van Dyke will attend Bemis Junior High School.
• Current 7^th and 8^th grade Davis Junior High School students who live west of Van Dyke (new junior high attendance area is Jeannette Junior High School) would have the choice to be “grandfathered” to remain at Davis Junior High School, with transportation provided.

• The same scenario above is for students who live north of Clinton River Road and east of Van Dyke.
• Current 6^th grade siblings where families choose to remain at Davis Junior High will also have the opportunity to follow their sibling. Transportation will be provided for two years.
• Davis Junior High School will be closed to Schools or Choice and transfer requests for new applicants for the foreseeable future. Current students who originally enrolled through SOC will be following their school's attendance feeder pattern. 

Jeannette Junior High School

• The new attendance area will be the entire area west of Van Dyke and south of Hall Road. The Jeannette attendance pattern north of Hall Road remains unchanged at this time.

Bemis Junior High School

• The new attendance area includes the entire area north of Clinton River, east of Van Dyke. The Bemis attendance area north of Hall Road remains unchanged at this time.

Henry Ford II High School

• The new attendance area includes the entire area north of Clinton River, east of Van Dyke. The Bemis/Henry Ford II High School attendance pattern north of Hall Road is not changed.
• 9^th grade Heritage and Davis students who are scheduled to attend Stevenson High School in the area north of Clinton River Road will have the option to remain at Stevenson.
• 8^th grade Heritage and Davis students in the new attendance area are scheduled to attend Henry Ford II next year.

Collins Elementary

• Collins Elementary will feed into Davis Junior High School.

Oakbrook Elementary

• Oakbrook Elementary will follow the revised attendance areas.
  • East of Van Dyke and south of Clinton River will attend Davis Junior High School.
  • North of Clinton River will attend Bemis Junior High School and feed into Henry Ford II High School.

DeKeyser Elementary

• DeKeyser Elementary will follow the revised attendance areas.
  • East of Van Dyke and south of Clinton River will attend Davis Junior High School.
  • North of Clinton River will attend Bemis Junior High School and feed into Henry Ford II High School
  • West of Van Dyke will attend Jeannette Junior High School

Plumbrook, Harvey, Burr, Schwarzkoff and Schuchard Elementaries

• Students who live west of Van Dyke and south of M-59 will be assigned to Jeannette Junior High School.
• 6^th grade students who live in this area – and have an older 7^th and/or 8^th grade sibling who has chosen to remain at Davis Junior High School – will have the option to attend Davis Junior High School with transportation provided.

Stevenson High School

• The area northeast of the Clinton River and Van Dyke will be assigned to the Bemis Junior High School/Henry Ford II High School attendance pattern.
• 9^th grade Heritage students who were scheduled to attend Stevenson next year – but live in an area that has revised to Henry Ford II High School (north of Clinton River and east of Van Dyke) - will have the option to attend Stevenson.
  
  

How will the changes impact staff?

The changes will not result in layoffs. Utica Community Schools Human Resources Department will work with each impacted staff member to discuss their individual situation.

Why is it necessary to make this decision at this time?

A decision at this time provides a greater opportunity for a successful transition for students. Receiving schools will begin immediately to provide opportunities for students to be welcomed to their  new communities. Families who need to decide on placement  options for students will be able to research and make the best decision for their family. Students will then begin in late winter to consider specialty program applications and begin the course selection process for junior high school.

What will the projected enrollment be in each school?

School	2024-25	Capacity
Bemis Junior High School	753	900
Davis Junior High School	1076	1200
Jeannette Junior High School	672	950

 

Projected 2027 Enrollment

School	2027-28	Capacity
Bemis Junior High School	850	900
Davis Junior High School	900	1200
Jeannette Junior High School	800	950

 

*The Davis Junior High School enrollment is based on all Heritage and current Davis students opting to remain next year. With the exception of 6^th grade siblings of current Davis students, Davis Junior High School will be closed to Schools or Choice and transfer requests for new applicants the foreseeable future. Current students who originally enrolled through SOC will be following their school's attendance feeder pattern. 

What building improvements are scheduled through the 2023 bond issue for the junior high schools in this attendance area revision?

The following sheets were developed for the bond issue and outline future projects at the schools:

• Bemis
• Davis
• Jeannette
  
  

My student is involved in athletics and/or extracurricular activities. How will this change impact them?

Available clubs and extracurricular activities at each school will be shared when principals reach out to their new families.

My student is enrolled in special education. How will the change impact them?

Staff will reach out to each impacted family to discuss how to best support families during the transition.

Where can I get additional information or provide feedback?

You may also submit questions at questions@uticak12.org.