Lakeville proposes sweeping 2026–27 school boundary changes
Lakeville Area Schools is proposing district‑wide attendance boundary changes for the 2026–27 school year—its second major redraw in two years—that would reassign students at all nine elementary schools and four middle schools to relieve overcrowding and plan for growth. Board Chair Matt Swanson says the district has added 800 students in five years and expects 500 more in the next five, while parents worry about repeated school moves for their children; a public feedback meeting is set for Jan. 6 ahead of a Jan. 13 board vote.
📌 Key Facts
- The proposal would change attendance boundaries for every one of Lakeville’s nine elementary schools and four middle schools for 2026–27.
- Lakeville enrollment has grown by about 800 students in the past five years, with another 500 expected over the next five, leading to some schools over capacity and others under capacity.
- Parents can comment at a Jan. 6 meeting, and the Lakeville school board is scheduled to vote on the boundary plan Jan. 13.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2023-2024, the student population in Lakeville Area Schools is 69% White, 9% Hispanic, 8% Black, 7% Asian, and 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native.
Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minnesota — Ballotpedia
In Lakeville Area Schools, there is an 11.1% disproportionality gap in graduation rates between racially and economically diverse students and White students, with goals to reduce this to 8.1% by 2025.
Achievement and Integration Dashboard — Lakeville Area Schools
In Lakeville Area Schools, there is a 9.5% disproportionality gap in FastBridge aReading assessment goal attainment between racially and economically diverse students and White students, with goals to reduce this to 3.5% by 2026.
Achievement and Integration Dashboard — Lakeville Area Schools
In Minnesota in 2024, four-year graduation rates were 62.9% for American Indian students, 73.9% for Black students, and 88.1% for Asian students, compared to higher rates for White students, contributing to statewide achievement gaps.
Minnesota graduation rate hits record high in 2024, data shows — St. Cloud Times
Lakeville's population growth is primarily driven by new housing developments and internal migration, with only 3.2% of residents being non-citizens and 6.7% naturalized citizens as of recent census data.
Lakeville, MN Demographics: Population, Income, and More — Point2 Homes
Changing schools due to attendance zone boundary adjustments can have a significant negative impact on students' educational outcomes, including test scores and attendance.
Why Attendance Zone Boundaries Matter for Equity — Education Northwest
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