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Enrollment in Scholar Studios surges; staff request expansion funding for supports
Summary
Division staff told the board they seek funding to sustain and expand Scholar Studios after student requests for 2025–26 reached 389 for rising ninth and tenth graders and total anticipated studio enrollment reached 601; staff requested dedicated EL and special education support to ensure accessibility.
Albemarle County Public Schools staff reported rising student interest in Scholar Studios and asked the board to include year‑one operational funding and additional student supports in the FY26 draft funding request.
Katina Dudley, science coordinator, and Megan Maynard, CTE coordinator, said requests for the 2025–26 year from rising ninth and tenth graders reached 389 and that total projected studio enrollment will be about 601 students in grades 9–12. Dudley noted that 236 of those requests are from rising ninth graders (about 22% of that cohort) and that some studios — the Link Studio and the Pulse (health and medical sciences) studio — have seen enrollment double.
Staff requested funding in year 1 for studio leads, instructional and student support, and operational needs; in year 2 they seek additional staffing for advanced learning pathways tied to labor-market demand and the planned Albemarle Career Exploration Academy at Lamb’s Lane. Dudley and Maynard emphasized equitable access: the FY26 request would add dedicated supports for English learners and students with disabilities so students receive necessary accommodations.
Board members asked about capacity and outreach. Staff said ACE Academy at Lamb’s Lane could accommodate up to 800 students (400 per day) and that the Seminole Trail campus (Center 1) could support 240 (120 per day). On outreach, staff described community meetings, counselor outreach, and school fairs; they said Mountain View and Woodbrook had previously paused or modified programming for local reasons.
No formal action was taken on the Scholar Studios funding at the March 6 meeting; the item remains part of staff’s set of proposed “Learning for All” investments under discussion.
