Elementary Boundary Adjustment
Readjusting Elementary Attendance Boundaries (2026-2027)
The School Board has approved a plan for new attendance areas at our district's six elementary schools. For some students, this will change the elementary school that they are assigned to attend and have bus transportation for. This plan does not change our overall district boundaries, but it changes the elementary attendance areas within those overall boundaries. Those who currently live within the Forest Lake Area School District will continue to live within the district.
Timeline
Over the past several months, the school district has conducted a thorough process to create the proposed new maps, including input from staff, community members and parents (read more on that process below). The School Board reviewed this plan for the first time on May 1st, 2025, answered questions and collected feedback during the month of May and approved the plan at their meeting on May 29, 2025.
The new boundaries and changes will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year (more than a year from now).
What is changing?
The district is changing the boundary maps that detail which elementary school serves students who live at each home address. You can view the proposed new map below and compare it to the current existing map.
Elementary Boundary Maps
To open a high resolution version of the map, click on the map below and then click the pop-up of the map to open the full resolution version. Note: It is a high resolution file, so it may take a little time to load.
Why is the district making this change?
Our district has a strong tradition of community elementary schools that serve our local cities and neighborhoods. Over time, changes occur in the number of school-age children within those communities, causing some of our neighborhood schools to be larger than others. When that happens, the district needs to re-balance the numbers of students that attend each school.
This is done by adjusting attendance boundaries and moving some neighborhoods into different elementary school attendance areas. Changing boundaries helps ensure that each student has access to the support and resources they need. It also creates efficiencies for each school and balances operational costs across the district.
Why are balanced numbers important?
Each of our schools have certain fixed operational costs like building expenses, health office staff, front office staff, food service facilities and staff, janitorial services, and a building principal. When schools get too large, it can be difficult to manage the needs of students, families and staff with the same central services as smaller schools. When schools are too small, it is inefficient to pay for all of those same operational needs while serving fewer students.
Who created this plan?
The process to redraw the elementary boundaries began by using a wide variety of demographic data to determine current and future student populations in each part of the district. Using that data, our teams began to do their work:
Design Team
This team of staff, including every elementary school principal, met several times to review the boundary maps, propose options and review the impact of each idea for change. This team considered many factors, like transportation, neighborhood demographics, new proposed housing developments, and many other factors. This team narrowed down the options to three different maps, which were then presented for further review by our Input Team.
Community Input Team
In order to hear more perspectives from the community, we assembled a team of community members and parents (at least two from each elementary school) to review the proposed maps. This team met three times and provided valuable feedback, which was incorporated into the final proposed map.
There were a lot of different stakeholder groups involved in the process and they didn’t just move the edges, they dug deep into the movement of households impacted.community Input team member
We are grateful the design team listened and was thoughtful regarding feedback from the input team. Very positive process that goes a long way in building trust.community Input team member
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this take affect?
If approved, the new boundaries and attendance areas will begin in the 2026-2027 school year and continue for subsequent years. Students will start school in September of 2026 with the new boundaries in place.
Can my child enroll in their new school in 2025 instead of waiting for 2026?
Yes, however parents would most likely be responsible for their student's transportation to and from school. Bus transportation is only guaranteed for students living within the current elementary school attendance boundary.
Can my child continue to attend their current school even if their assigned school has changed?
Yes, however parents would most likely be responsible for their student's transportation to and from school. Bus transportation is only guaranteed for students living within the current elementary school attendance boundary.
I'm not sure where my address falls on the new map. How will I know which school my child attends in 2026-2027?
If the plan is approved, we will be sending direct mailings to families letting them know which elementary school their child is assigned to attend.
How will this impact class sizes?
Our district will continue to provide the number of teachers needed at each school to keep class sizes within an acceptable range. As the numbers of students in one building shifts, the numbers of teachers will shift accordingly.