Charles school board approves elementary redistricting plan

The Charles County Board of Education at its June 11 meeting approved an elementary school redistricting plan that will create an attendance zone for the new Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary School, set to open in August 2025.

The approved plan moves 1,044 existing students from the following schools: Berry, Billingsley, William A. Diggs, Mary H. Matula, T.C. Martin, Arthur Middleton, Walter J. Mitchell, J.P. Ryon and William B. Wade elementary schools.

The redistricting takes effect a year from now, with the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

In 2023, the Charles public school system launched an elementary school redistricting process to create an attendance zone for Thornton Elementary. A redistricting committee was tasked to develop two different proposals for consideration by Superintendent Maria Navarro for a recommendation to the school board.

In May, Navarro presented a revised redistricting proposal — Proposal B with modifications — that did not move as many students as outlined in committee Proposal B.

The board approved the original Proposal B at its June 11 meeting.

The board did not approve the recommendation made by the superintendent for a modified Proposal B that would have moved only 531 existing students.

The approved plan not only creates an attendance zone for Thornton, but it alleviates some overcrowding and plans for anticipated student enrollment growth in neighborhoods under construction.

The following is a summary of neighborhood blocks that will make up the zone for Thornton:

• Blocks 3871, 3881, 3859 and 3891 from Billingsley Elementary School;

• Blocks 2571, 2711 and 2643 from Arthur Middleton Elementary School; and

• Blocks 2531, 2541, 2561 and 2551 from Mary H. Matula Elementary School.

Students who live in these blocks will attend Thornton effective with the 2025-2026 school year. The state-rated capacity of the new school is 778 students, but under the redistricting plan and created attendance zone, Thornton will open with an expected 618 students and have room for future growth.

Parents can find the block number for their home address in ParentVue, under the student information menu area. The first four numbers listed under “grid code” are a residential block number.

Additionally, the following block moves were included in Proposal B and will take effect in August 2025:

• Block 3781 moves from Berry Elementary School to William A. Diggs Elementary School;

• Block 3750 moves from William A. Diggs Elementary School to Billingsley Elementary School;

• Block 1821 moves from Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School to T.C. Martin Elementary School;

• Blocks 2732 and 3862 move from Billingsley to Arthur Middleton Elementary School;

• Block 3830 moves from Billingsley to William B. Wade Elementary School; and

• Block 2951 moves from J.P. Ryon to Arthur Middleton Elementary School.

Additional information about the redistricting process is posted on the school system website at www.ccboe.com.

Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary School is currently under construction off St. Charles Parkway in White Plains at 5860 St. David Drive, within the new Highlands neighborhood development. The 94,000-square-foot building is set to open for the 2025-2026 school year.

The cost of the new school, which marks the school system’s 23rd elementary school, is $45.4 million.