Rock Hill board debates high‑school open‑enrollment pilot; transportation and equity raise concerns

Summary

Board members received a first read of a proposed open‑enrollment policy to pilot student transfers among the district’s three high schools for 2025–26, capped at roughly 5% of each school's enrollment. Board members and community speakers raised questions about timing, transportation, equity and community input.

Rock Hill School Board members on May 13 heard a first reading of a proposed open‑enrollment policy to allow students in grades 9–12 to transfer to another district high school under a pilot for the 2025–26 year.

The policy as presented would permit transfers to designated “open enrollment” high schools on a first‑come, first‑accepted basis, limit transfers initially to about 5% of each school’s enrollment, require families to provide transportation, and reserve review and capacity checks by district staff.

“...we will start out with a very small number of open enrollment seats. That capacity is about 5% of the current enrollment of each school,” said Dr. Marty Connor, who led the presentation with District Athletic Director Jimmy Duncan.

Officials proposed specific seat counts for the three high schools in the pilot: about 60…

Rock Hill board debates high‑school open‑enrollment pilot; transportation and equity raise concerns

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading