San Rafael School District Adds New Elementary

May 25th, 2010 By George Crowe

An increase in the number of five and six-year-olds entering Marin public schools is forcing some Marin districts to get creative. According to the San Rafael City Schools enrollment office, some 390 fifth graders will be graduating this Spring but there will be 560 kindergartners entering district schools this Fall.  For the 2010-2011 school year Sun Valley, Coleman, and Bahia Vista elementary schools would have more kids than class space.

To meet the increased demand the district is in the process of adding three kindergarten classes for the coming school year at Short Elementary, the formerly decommissioned school at Marin and Bayview in Gerstle Park. People in the enrollment office said they’ll also have a preschool for special needs kids at the site. They said to keep an eye on the district website for updates.

The Ross Valley School District is also working on options to handle increased enrollment in Fairfax and San Anselmo.  There’s been a lot of talk about reopening the Deer Park School as a K-5, but according to the website they’ll be deciding on a course of action by June.