Indianapolis Public Schools is putting out the last call to the public to share thoughts and give feedback to the IPS Board of School Commissioners before its Sept. 18 vote to close and/or convert high schools. This week, school commissioners are holding the final public meetings at Arlington High School on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Northwest High School on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 5:30 p.m. Each meeting will start with a 90-minute public comment session. Those wishing to speak are asked to sign up by noon on the day of the meeting to reserve their spot at myips.org.
IPS plans to “reinvent” the high school experience by offering more college and career options and 100 percent school choice in the 2018-19 school year. Due to a dramatic drop in student enrollment over the last 50 years, the district’s high school buildings are now less than 50 percent full. As a result, the IPS administration recommends moving forward with four high schools for a new IPS high school experience.
This plan includes:
• Retaining Arsenal Technical High School, Crispus Attucks High School, George Washington High School and Shortridge High School
• Converting Arlington High School to a middle school during the day and an evening high school after regular school hours, and relocating some district administrative offices into the building
• Converting Northwest High School to a middle school and relocating the Newcomer Program and some district administrative offices into the building
• Closing Broad Ripple High School for sale and community reuse and relocating Visual & Performing Arts and Humanities programing to Shortridge High School
• Closing John Marshall Middle School, the Facilities Maintenance Department building and Forest Manor for sale and community reuse
