Deadline at hand to comment on Wake school assignment maps

The maps are the first step in the process of dismantling Wake County's long-standing system of assigning students to schools to achieve socio-economic balance.

The board majority, elected in November, has worked toward changing the student assignment policy since taking office.

The committee developed four options for geographical student assignment and posted them for public comment on Aug. 31. The committee's preferred map focuses on high schools as the basis for the zones.

Parents could access student achievement, graduation rates and demographic data linked to the proposed zones to inform their comment.

The comments have varied from those for community-based schools to those with concerns.

"The proposed assignment is anti community and anti neighborhood. It removes kids from schools that are practically in sight of their homes,” a Raleigh resident posted online.

"Love the ability to go to community schools and the idea of more continuity,” an Apex resident posted.

A Fuquay-Varina resident posted a comment about the lack of magnet school options.

"In the proposed zone for Fuquay, there are not magnet options nor year-round middle school options,” the Fuquay-Varina resident wrote.

School board members have stressed that the preliminary student assignment zone maps could see many changes based on public feedback.