WJCC Plans to Redistrict Several Elementary Schools for Fall 2027
Many schools still expected to remain below capacity over the next decade
Several Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) elementary schools are expected to be included in a redistricting process scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2027, as school officials respond to growing enrollment imbalances and shifting facility needs across the division.
Based on current projections, Matthew Whaley Elementary School and Stonehouse Elementary School are expected to exceed 100% capacity by fiscal year 2028 if attendance boundaries remain unchanged. DJ Montague Elementary School and James River Elementary School are also nearing capacity thresholds, projected to reach approximately 92% and 96%, respectively. Together, these schools are likely to be central to the upcoming redistricting effort.
Other elementary schools in the division currently have available capacity, creating disparities that division leaders say cannot be addressed without adjusting attendance boundaries.
Why These Schools Are Driving Redistricting
The primary catalyst for the redistricting is the opening of two standalone Pre-K centers in fiscal year 2028. Once operational, preschool programs currently housed in elementary schools will relocate to the new facilities, freeing up classrooms that can be converted into K–2 instructional space.
While this shift will increase capacity across the elementary system, officials emphasized that the benefit will not be evenly distributed. Without redistricting, overcrowded schools would remain over capacity while others would continue to operate below their potential.
Superintendent Dr. Daniel Keever told board members that redistricting is necessary to fully capitalize on existing space, particularly at the elementary level where the most immediate changes are occurring.
Enrollment Trends Provide Broader Context
The redistricting discussion follows a systemwide enrollment review presented at a joint meeting on Dec. 5, 2025, where officials examined current data alongside the final report from FutureThink, the division’s long-term enrollment consultant.
For the 2025–26 school year, WJCC reported 11,146 students, a decline of 233 students from the previous year and 199 fewer than earlier low-end projections. Enrollment trends varied by level:
High schools enrolled 3,804 students and are operating at about 96% capacity.
Middle schools enrolled 2,552 students, placing them at roughly 82% capacity.
Elementary schools enrolled 4,790 students overall, with systemwide capacity projected at about 82% by 2028—despite overcrowding at several individual schools.
FutureThink’s projections suggest that while enrollment has declined in the short term, growth remains possible. The firm’s “most likely” scenario forecasts a 10% increase in enrollment over the next decade, though outcomes could vary significantly depending on housing development and economic conditions.
Systemwide Planning Impacts
The uneven enrollment picture has already shaped the division’s Capital Improvement Plan. Because middle school enrollment is not expected to reach 90% capacity for at least 10 years, Phase 2 of James Blair Middle School has been removed from the current 10-year plan. Similarly, officials concluded that a 10th elementary school will not be needed within the next decade.
Instead, division leaders are focusing on maximizing existing facilities through redistricting, improved feeder patterns, and operational efficiencies.
Goals and Next Steps
The redistricting process will initially focus on elementary schools and pursue three key objectives:
Balancing enrollment by redistributing students away from overcrowded schools such as Matthew Whaley and Stonehouse.
Strengthening feeder patterns to provide clearer progression from elementary to middle and high schools.
Improving transportation efficiency through more logical attendance zones and bus routes.
Officials cautioned that enrollment trends can change quickly due to new residential development or shifts in the housing market, emphasizing the need for flexibility as new boundaries are considered.
Additional details on the redistricting process, including public engagement opportunities and potential boundary scenarios, are expected to be released as planning continues.
The writer used AI tools and these sources:
Future Think Final Report Enrollment Projections Update October 21, 2025
Video - WJCC School Board, JCC, WMBG Joint Meeting from 12-5-25
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