Any New Iowa High Schools Coming in the Future?

[BillyClone]

Ankeny created Centennial in 2013. Iowa City created Liberty in 2017. Waukee created Northwest in 2021. Any talk of more new high schools opening in growing districts?

I see Southeast Polk, Johnston, and Linn-Mar BEDS (grades 9, 10, and 11 enrollment) are in the 1700-1800 range. Don't know if growth is strong enough in those communities to support an additional high school? I know WDM Valley is over 2000 but they are stagnant with growth and haven't created a 2nd high school.

 

[alarson]

Ankeny will probably have a third hs within 10 years or so

 

[isucy86]

I heard Waukee might be adding another HS. But that might be more planning vs a specific opening date.

 

[Dr.bannedman]

ya,,, well... lots of small high schools need to be combined into larger ones.....

 

[wxman1]

The board won't really comment on it and seem hellbent on not splitting but as a LM grad and current resident I don't see how it doesn't split within 10 years or so. The only reason to hold back on it IMO would be dropping down to lower levels athletically or concern with an aging resident population.

 

[8bitnes]

Ankeny will probably have a third hs within 10 years or so

It used to be 2030, then 2034, now maybe even later??? Enrollment gains slowed a bit due to covid.

Once they start building middle schools, then they are about 6-7 years out from a new high school if a traditional model is used. However, the talk at one time was for the third HS to be a magnet/academy type of school.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

There is a new middle school being built in Altoona. I'd imagine a new high school to be in their near future too.

 

[ISUTex]

There is a new middle school being built in Altoona. I'd imagine a new high school to be in their near future too.

New as in replacing old, or adding another school?

 

[somecyguy]

The board won't really comment on it and seem hellbent on not splitting but as a LM grad and current resident I don't see how it doesn't split within 10 years or so. The only reason to hold back on it IMO would be dropping down to lower levels athletically or concern with an aging resident population.

Part of Linmar's issue is their ridiculous geographic foot print. There is absolutely no reason for people living near Mt Vernon road going to LM, other than those people thumbing their nose at going to Washington.

Making the dividing line at Hwy 100 would be a great start towards reining in the size.

 

[Drew0311]

Waukee is in the planning stages of a new one. Dallas Center/Grimes better start looking into another new one already

 

[CYdTracked]

Waukee is in the planning stages of a new one. Dallas Center/Grimes better start looking into another new one already

With the rate Grimes is growing DCG likely will need to build a 2nd HS in the near future I would guess.

 

[aeroclone]

Waukee is in the planning stages of a new one. Dallas Center/Grimes better start looking into another new one already

Waukee opened their second high school 2 years ago, and DCG isn't even a 5A school for their existing school yet. Neither of these things is happening in the next 10 years.

 

[AirWalke]

Waukee is in the planning stages of a new one. Dallas Center/Grimes better start looking into another new one already

Where would it go? Enrollment for Sugar Creek and Woodland Hills is probably going to necessitate a 3rd elementary for the housing development near and south of the interstate, I wonder if they’re earmarking a location out that way?

 

[AirWalke]

Waukee opened their second high school 2 years ago, and DCG isn't even a 5A school for their existing school yet. Neither of these things is happening in the next 10 years.

2027 (5 years out), enrollment numbers for K-5 are already projected to hit about 7,300 kids, and that’s for six grade levels. If the high schools (10-12) have a capacity for 2000 students each it’s easy to see why they might be looking 10-15 years down the road.

 

[BCClone]

 

[Drew0311]

Waukee opened their second high school 2 years ago, and DCG isn't even a 5A school for their existing school yet. Neither of these things is happening in the next 10 years.

Actually not true. They did open a new school two years ago but the projection is within 8 years. That’s what we have heard. DCG will quickly go from 4A to 5A to needing a second high school. It’s growing to fast.

 

[aeroclone]

Actually not true. They did open a new school two years ago but the projection is within 8 years. That’s what we have heard. DCG will quickly go from 4A to 5A to needing a second high school. It’s growing to fast.

https://waukee-juiceboxinteract.net...the Future - Waukee Community School District

Take a look at Waukee's enrollment projection data right here. WHS is just shy of 1300 students this year. Northwest just under 1400. Both buildings have a capacity of 2k. That means you have around 1300 in unused capacity between the two. Data is on page 44 of the PDF.

Take a look at their conclusions on page 47 and they are forecasting growth of 600 in the high schools over the next 5 years. That is less than half of the open high school capacity that they have today. If they maintain that growth rate, high school number 3 would be about 10 years away.

I'm not as familiar with DCG, but Waukee became a 4A school around like 2005, 4A being the largest classification at the time. Waukee has been the fastest growing school district in the state pretty much every year in the 2000s and they took about 15 years to go from a 4A school to a 2nd high school. DCG hasn't quite hit 5A status yet, so I would imagine they would follow a similar timeline and be at least 15 years out from a second HS.

 

[Kinch]

My guess is Johnston will be looking at a second high school in a few years. They had a lot of growth about 5 to 10 years ago, then stalled and now seems to be starting to grow again.

 

[wxman1]

Part of Linmar's issue is their ridiculous geographic foot print. There is absolutely no reason for people living near Mt Vernon road going to LM, other than those people thumbing their nose at going to Washington.

Making the dividing line at Hwy 100 would be a great start towards reining in the size.

Not disagreeing. The district size goes back to the founding of it being a consolidation of a number of one room/very small rural schools hence the name Linn (County)-Mar(Marion). Hell the old Novak Elementary (Now ESC or whatever they are calling it these days) was the original building and I believe when it opened was outfitted for the teachers to live there. There are certainly places that could be given to the Marion District especially south of 100 and east of 13 without too much of an increase to Marion's numbers but it would give up some significant tax income for LM.

LMs growth though is on the north side. Along Alburnett road there are now subdivisions north of Echo Hill and expanding. Then you have the large development north of 29th east of 35th. There is very little growth to the south and east.

 

[somecyguy]

LMs growth though is on the north side. Along Alburnett road there are now subdivisions north of Echo Hill and expanding. Then you have the large development north of 29th east of 35th. There is very little growth to the south and east.

Very true. With no existing rural school district to the north at some point they'll need to draw a line in the sand and create a new one. No one will want to because the tax burden that will come with it. No commercial tax base to help either. My SIL lives in Robins and both her kids went to LM, but she complains constantly about the high tax rate.