District proposes moratorium on certain Thornton Elementary blocks to curb overenrollment
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Summary
Charles County Public Schools staff proposed a moratorium, effective after the last day of school (tentatively June 11), that would prevent new registrations from three nearby blocks (2643, 2541, 2552) from attending Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary and would instead assign those new residents to nearby elementary schools; existing students would not be moved.
District staff proposed a targeted moratorium to slow rapid enrollment growth at Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary School and to preserve capacity for students already enrolled.
Mister Heim told the board the school's September 30 enrollment was 766 students, the state-rated capacity is 778, and by January enrollments had risen to 792. He said staff identified three neighboring blocks showing growth—Block 2643 (Lehi Eagles South/Stonehaven), Block 2541 (Ascend Pine Grove apartments) and Block 2552 (Rosewood Apartments)—and recommended placing a moratorium on new registrations from those blocks after the tentative effective date at the end of the school year.
Under the proposal, families who move into Block 2643 after the effective date would be assigned to Brown Elementary School; new residents of Block 2541 would be assigned to Matula Elementary School; and new residents of Block 2552 would be assigned to Metola/Matula Elementary School (the transcript contains alternate spellings for the third school). Heim emphasized that the moratorium would not split existing families: "We would not split families," he said, and staff would examine registration documentation to keep siblings together.
Operational steps: The Office of Communications would notify the public, share the measure with local media (including the Maryland Independent), notify developers and the real estate community, meet with impacted principals and update the school-locator tool (adding a dropdown notice for Thornton's zone) and the district's websites and newsletters. Heim said transportation costs would rise slightly because buses would add stops to existing routes rather than requiring additional equipment.
Numbers and duration: Heim reported early counts of about nine students associated with each of the two apartment blocks and an unexpected increase of approximately 60 students from Block 2643. He said moratoria typically remain in effect until a redistricting or the opening of a new school; prior moratoria cited included Summers Middle School (2016—2022).
Status and next steps: The board received the presentation and asked clarifying questions; no formal vote was recorded during the work session. Communications and registration procedures will be developed and principals at the impacted schools were already notified in advance of the meeting.