YORK, S.C. (WBTV) - A new middle school is coming to York County next year and that means hundreds of students will soon be assigned to a new school.
York School District 1 is now working on new attendance boundaries and parents want to know where their kids will end up.
White Hill Middle School is set to open in 2027 giving York School District 1 a second middle school. This week, parents got their first look at how the district plans to divide students between the two schools.
“I am excited. I’m glad that York has stepped up and built this new school for our kids,” parent Amy Pendleton said.
Growth continues across York County and parents like Pendleton say they’re excited about the new school but want to know where their kids will go.
“I’ve talked to other friends and family, and they are all concerned about which school they’re gonna go to,” Pendleton said.
The district says 1,000 students will be able to attend White Hill. But before those students are assigned the district is looking at demographics and where families already live, trying to create boundaries that make sense without splitting neighborhoods.
“We’re moving toward these boundaries and the lines that will be implemented. Because the district is modifying those boundaries, we want to be a K-5, 6-8, 9-12 with a pre-K center,” said Janet Parker, the district’s public information officer.
Some parents also had questions about 5th graders. Next school year all of the district’s fifth graders will go to York Intermediate -- except students at Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary.
“That is like all of the kids going to one school for one year and then they all get split up again. So, I’m not too fond of that but I know that there’s a reason why they have to do that,” Pendleton said.
The district explains it’s so they can make room for their pre-K program.
“That will give us that one year to get our pre-K, stand alone pre-K ready,” Parker said.
This week’s meeting was the first of several the district says they’ll offer to families. Officials say they want this to be a transparent process and are encouraging people to get involved by visiting their project site here.
“Submit comments, your feedback, there will also be a survey just asking people what they think, what they wanna know, and their questions,” Parker said.
The school district will have its next meeting on Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at the York Comprehensive High School cafeteria.
Parker says the district will make a final decision on zoning lines in January.