School Board Faces Tough Choices on 6th Grade Transition

In a recent school board meeting, officials discussed the timeline and options for transitioning sixth graders to middle schools in light of delays in the construction of the new Rorson Road School. The school is now not expected to be ready for the 2026-2027 school year, prompting the board to consider three potential plans for the transition.

The first option is a straightforward delay, pushing the entire sixth-grade transition to the 2027-2028 school year. This would mean no sixth graders would move up in the 2026-2027 year.

The second option, termed the \"halfway model,\" proposes that four middle schools on the east side of the district—Bartlett, Streamwood, and Hanover Park—would proceed with the transition as planned in 2026-2027. Meanwhile, the western half of the district, including Larson, Kimball, Kenyon Woods, and the new Rorson Road School, would delay their transition to the following year.

The third option, which is more complex, aims to implement the sixth-grade transition as originally scheduled for 2026-2027. Under this plan, all students except those bound for Rorson would be accommodated in existing schools, specifically Ellis and Abbott. The seventh and eighth graders would temporarily attend Ellis, while the sixth graders slated for Rorson would go to Abbott for that year. This arrangement allows the sixth graders to remain with their future peers, facilitating a smoother transition to the new school the following year.

The board acknowledged the challenges and implications of each option, emphasizing the need for a decision that best supports students during this transitional period. Further discussions and considerations are expected as the board moves forward with planning.