Our elementary schools are already over-capacity.
Our community is rapidly growing. In fact, Ridgefield’s population has grown by 116.6 percent between 2010-2012, making it Washington’s fastest-growing city. Additionally, we are also experiencing steady growth in areas outside city limits that lie within our school district boundaries.
Not surprisingly, the Ridgefield School District is the fastest-growing school system in southwest Washington. Current district enrollment is 3,747 students and growing!
"Crowded classroom conditions not only make it difficult for students to concentrate on their lessons, but inevitably limit the amount of time teachers can spend on innovative teaching methods, such as cooperative learning and group work or teaching anything beyond the barest minimum of required material. In addition, because teachers must constantly struggle simply to maintain order in an overcrowded classroom, the likelihood increases that they will suffer from burnout earlier than might otherwise be the case."
- US Department of Education
What we need ...
A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The new school will be built on property the District already owns at 7025 North 10th Street in Ridgefield. In fact, the site has been prepped and is ready to begin construction as soon as a bond is approved by voters. The school would be on track to open on time for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
The new 75,000 square foot K-4 school will relieve overcrowding at South Ridge and Union Ridge, two of the state's largest elementary schools. The new school would also temporarily serve 5th and 6th grade students from Sunset Ridge Intermediate School until a new intermediate/middle school campus can be built in the future.
Watch the video to the right for a virtual tour of what "New Ridge" will look like!
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
Despite the recent renovations and additions at RHS, there is already a need to provide additional classroom space to adequately serve our student populations. In addition to building additional general education classroom space, the proposed bond would provide a new metal shop and classroom, and have space designated for expanded Career and Technical Education, or CTE, program offerings.
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LAND PURCHASE
for future 5th-6th Grade Intermediate and 7th-8th Grade Middle School Campus
Phase I of this multi-phase process to build a shared campus complex housing an intermediate school serving 5th and 6th graders and a middle school serving 7th and 8th.
BEGIN DESIGN OF NEW 5-6 AND 7-8 CAMPUS
BEGIN DESIGN OF HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION
Also paid for with developer impact fees, this design will include new classrooms for general education to slow the need for additional portable classrooms. A new vocational building is needed to replace the existing one built in 1975. Building new is expected to be less expensive than a full renovation and will deliver a learning environment that more effectively supports current industry standards. The existing vocational education building will be re-purposed to support the districts warehouse and facilities department needs, both of which have grown considerably as enrollment continues to increase.