Skip To Main Content

Carnall Elementary Right Sizing Proposal

carnall elementary building

Carnall Elementary Transition Update

The Board of Education has approved the final attendance zone plan for Carnall Elementary, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.

Carnall Rezoning Map Option A

 

Where will my child attend school?

Carnall Elementary students will attend either Cavanaugh Elementary or Beard Elementary based on the approved attendance zone. The boundary is divided along Jenny Lind Road:

  • Students living west of Jenny Lind Road will attend Cavanaugh Elementary
  • Students living east of Jenny Lind Road will attend Beard Elementary

Background

In the fall of 2023, FSPS established a Long-Range Facility Planning Committee to develop a strategic plan for our school facilities. Their focus was on creating a practical and adaptable roadmap to guide the district's infrastructure development over the next 5 to 15 years.

A major part of this plan includes a focus on rightsizing over the next five years. Rightsizing aims to improve our campuses at minimal cost while maximizing their suitability for current and future needs. For elementary schools, key factors include a building capacity of 625 students, a target utilization rate of 80% or 500 students, and the depreciated value of the buildings.

What is Rightsizing, and What Does it Mean for Students and Staff?

Rightsizing is a strategic approach to optimizing the use of our school facilities by aligning the size and capacity of our buildings with the current and projected student population. This process is not just about closing schools but about ensuring that our schools are efficient, effective, and equipped to provide the best possible learning environment.

Benefits of Rightsizing:

  • Decreased Need for Class-Sizing: By pooling more resources and staff into fewer schools, the district gains greater flexibility to accommodate growth and balance state requirements. This reduces the likelihood of class-sizing by ensuring that schools are neither overcrowded nor underutilized.
  • Grade-Level Collaboration: Multiple teachers teach the same grade level, allowing them to collaborate more effectively and share resources and strategies to improve student outcomes.
  • Dedicated Resources: Each campus will have dedicated art, music, and PE teachers, reducing the need for staff to split time across multiple schools.
  • Full-Time Assistant Principals: Each campus can have a dedicated Assistant Principal instead of sharing, enhancing student support and administrative efficiency.

Timeline

  • April 22, 2024: The school board received a presentation of the district’s Long-Range Plan, which recommended rightsizing elementary schools. This included closing elementary schools and rezoning those students to neighboring schools within the next five years. The board of education approved the Long-Range Plan at this meeting.

  • May 19, 2025: At the school board meeting, the Long Range Planning Committee recommended the district begin studying the potential of rezoning students at Carnall Elementary and Spradling Elementary. 

  • December 8, 2026: Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Tiffany Bone presented Attendance Zone recommendations for Carnall Elementary to the Board. 

  • February 2, 2026: The Board of Education approved Option A as the attendance zone plan for Carnall Elementary.

2025-2026 Zoning Map

A detailed map displaying various land areas, roads, and geographic features in a region.

Rezoning Options

Carnall Rezoning Map Option A

 

Option A

Split Carnall Elementary between Cavanaugh and Beard Elementary

Boundary is split along Jenny Lind Rd

Carnall Rezoning Plan B

 

Option B

Split Carnall Elementary between Cavanaugh and Beard Elementary

Boundary is along Zero St down to Beard and the rest would go to Cavanaugh. 

Carnall Rezoning Map Option C

 

Option C

Split Carnall Elementary between Cavanaugh and Beard Elementary

Boundary is along Zero St down to Beard and the back property of Towson to Cavanaugh

Carnall Quick Facts

  • Enrollment: 151

  • Year Built: 1962

  • Total Square Footage: 49,073 square feet

  • Total Number of Classrooms: 21

  • Number of classrooms that meet state standards: 5

Frequently Asked Questions