Major changes could be on the horizon at Leon County’s John G. Riley Elementary School. With the school operating at 102% capacity, Leon County Schools is considering a change to the school zone for the 2025-26 school year.
The district took to Facebook last Monday to announce their proposal to change the school zone, saying that the change will “allow for adequate student population and to add up to three pre-kindergarten classrooms on campus.” Additionally, the district said the rezone will impact school zones for Astoria Park, Fort Braden and Sabal Palm Elementary School.
There are more than 1,700 children zoned for Riley Elementary and Leon County is proposing to rezone more than 206 students before next school year.
According to Leon County Schools, the district is looking to rezone 21 students to Fort Braden, 63 to Astoria Park, and 122 to Sabal Palm.
The district held a community rezoning forum at Riley Elementary on Feb. 12 where officials were able to further explain the purpose of the proposal. According to Danny Allbritton, the director of construction for Leon County Schools, this move could bring the capacity of Riley Elementary down from 102% to 79%.
“When we were looking at it, we looked at capacity, and what we found is that Astoria Park, Sabal Palm, and Fort Braden were fairly low,” said Allbritton. “By doing this, we brought the capacity of these schools closer to each other so that Riley will have room for the Pre-K program to come.”
Leon County Schools is looking to add 66 youngsters into Riley Elementary for their Pre-K program. Riley Elementary is currently the only elementary school in Leon County without a Pre-K classroom.
According to Michelle Gayle, the deputy superintendent at Leon County Schools, many of the kids who live in the district are sent to Leonard Wesson Elementary School for Pre-K. Gayle said this was heavily factored into for the rezoning proposal.
“Those kids are bussed over to Wesson and they get a quality program,” said Gayle during the community forum. “Even though you know that your child is getting a quality education, having them here on their home campus is most important,” she added.
While some of the families that are affected by the rezoning may not be comfortable with the idea of moving their child to another public school, Florida’s school choice program may provide a possible solution.
“The existing students will have the ability to stay here under choice,” said Allbritton. “By bringing the capacity numbers down, Riley is allowed to have choice again.”
Under the school choice program, families can decide the best educational option for the child without being required to send them to their zoned school. However, according to Leon County Schools, transportation will not be provided if they choose this route.
Among the many officials from Leon County Schools in attendance for the community rezoning forum at Riley Elementary was Darryl Jones. Jones serves on the Leon County School Board and offered several words of encouragement for parents who will be affected by the rezoning.
“What I hope that you understand as we make this change is that we are going to be able to bring down class size and that you are going to some other great teachers and great principals,” Jones said. “What’s most important as we make these changes as we make these adjustments is to know that all of these schools have the full support of the school board and we are going to make sure that the transition is going to be absolutely seamless.”
The next community rezoning forum will take place Feb. 20 at Astoria Park Elementary School.