Accokeek Academy Boundary Changes

Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Kevin Maxwell presented his recommended boundary changes to the Board of Education at its January 21, 2016 meeting. Among the proposed changes for Accokeek Academy is to assign areas east of Piscataway Creek, including The Preserve at Piscataway neighborhood, to Ft. Washington Forest Elementary School for grades PreK-5 and Gwynn Park Middle School for grades 6-8.

We fully understand that some adjustments to Accokeek Academy boundaries are needed due to the overcrowding situation at the school. However, we strongly urge the Board of Education to change the proposed new boundaries so that the Preserve at Piscataway neighborhood remains assigned to Accokeek Academy. We believe the following facts support our request:

- According to CEO Maxwell’s presentation, the proposed changes are projected to result in Accokeek Academy utilization rate dropping to around 80%, while Gwynn Park Middle School enrollment is projected to grow to almost 110%. Switching the Preserve neighborhood back to Accokeek Academy could help alleviate this projected imbalance.

- The Preserve is the closest neighborhood to Accokeek Academy that is being reassigned. The distance from our development entry to the school is less than half a mile. Thus, Accokeek Academy is truly our neighborhood school due to its physical proximity to us.

- In the proposed new boundaries, the Preserve would be the only part of Accokeek (as defined by the zip code) that would not be assigned to Accokeek Academy. It would be unfair if our neighborhood were the only part of Accokeek that would not send its children to Accokeek Academy – especially when the school is projected to be 20% below full capacity.