Freshman Hannah Middleton delved into high school life at Legacy. She is in theater, journalism and on the improv troupe. However, because of her address, next year she was supposed to be zoned to attend Lake Ridge High School, but the board’s third and final option was approved and Middleton will now be attending Legacy High School for her 2012-13 school year.

[view map here]

A committee of parents and members of the community worked with demographer to draw up a proposal for new high school attendance zones.

“I love it here, I didn’t want to leave because of journalism and theater,” Middleton said. “I’m comfortable, and I like it.”

Freshmen and sophomores in the newly chaged area must attend Lake Ridge. Next year’s juniors and seniors, and their siblings who attend the same high school in the new Lake Ridge attendance zone, have the option of staying at their current school until they graduate after submitting an application located on the district’s web page.

“I was totally against it,” Middleton said. “It really stinks because not only did I get comfortable here, I don’t want to leave.”

Middleton is now upset because she has friends who live close to her and are still affected by the zone. Middleton, her parents and other Legacy students and parents who were upset about the change attended two public hearings held by the district.

According to the parents living west of 287, with the original options, the biggest issue is the distance between their house and Lake Ridge. The Lake Ridge zone stretched from south of Broad Street to Joe Pool Lake. After hearing concern about the distance between Lake Ridge and the zones farthest barrier, County Road 526, the Zone Review Committee decided to send a survey to the residents. This survey was the deciding factor on if those students would be attend Lake Ridge or continue at Legacy.

Because moving the least amount of kids the least amount of times seems to be most efficient, that small portion of students formerly zoned for Legacy is necessary to avoid an entire population shift.

“We are planning for the future,” Superintendent Dr. Morrison said. “Legacy’s area is growing as well as all of the other areas; Somebody has got to move.”

The Lake Ridge High School Attendance Zone process began on Nov. 10, 2011. The committee decides border lines by facilities, future growth, transportation and the fewest possible number of transfers.

“People fall in love with the school they go to, so the kids that get zoned for Lake Ridge will get used to the idea of moving and like it,” Dr. Morrison said.

There will also be open enrollment for Lake Ridge. Any incoming high school student may transfer to Lake Ridge. Applications for the Lake Ridge Option are due in the Director of Campus Support office by Jan. 23, 2012. (Principal David Wright will be taking over the Director of Campus Support position in February 2012.) The District will not provide transportation for students using the Lake Ridge Option.

“Change is difficult and I appreciate that,” Dr. Morrison said. “I appreciate when parents express concern about things like this.”

[read the behind the scene blog from the writer here]

Lake Ridge will open at a 4A level and all sports will have varsity team. Timberview, MHS and Summit are projected to be be 5A and Legacy 4A.

“You may be disappointed,” Dr. Morrison said. “However at the first football game when the Eagles run out on the field at their first win, there will be pride in that school.”

Middleton’s parents and others completed the survey and the School Board and the Zone Review Committee took their problem in to consideration. The new zone that has been approved puts Middleton, and other families who live in the County Road 526 and 525 area, in Legacy’s zone.

“Literally no more than two weeks after being at Legacy made me just love it here I feel safe,” Middleton said. “I feel like everyone gets along for the most part, I feel very accepted and I really like it.”