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GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
 

Geographic Information Systems [GIS] is the use of databases and interactive maps as planning tools. It has widespread use, and its application to school districts is seen in a variety of services.

 

DeJONG is a business partner with the Environmental Systems Research Institute [ESRI], the industry leader in GIS and Mapping software. ESRI is the creator and distributor of the software packages ArcGIS and ArcView, both of which are widely used in the K-12 education arena.
 
 

 

Mapping of Students, Schools, and Boundaries

  

Through a process called geocoding, DeJONG uses the student database to electronically place each student on a map. School facilities, district boundaries, feeder patterns, and attendance boundaries are also mapped. Unlike a paper map where "what you see is what you get," a GIS map is a combination of many layers of information. The information comes from databases that are linked to the GIS and contain records and statistics.

 
 
 

 

Demographic Analysis

 

Population and housing demographics from the Census and local sources is analyzed to determine trends in different areas of the district. Population projections by age and housing growth projections are examined to determine how they can impact decision making for future facilities. Finally, specific grade configurations and students in special programs are studied to make sure that these programs are at their most efficient location.

 

Enrollment for each school is analyzed to depict:

  • Students who live and attend in boundary

  • Students who live in but attend out of boundary

  • Students who live out but attend in boundary
 
 

 

Potential Enrollment Study

  

In order to determine enrollment in a district when all available land is developed, DeJONG contacts and collects data from various organizations in the school district, especially city, county, and federal sources. These sources include city and county building departments, auditors, city and county engineers, and other planning departments in the area. Maps of district attendance boundaries are converted into GIS for analysis. New and historical housing development in the district is geocoded and analyzed at a district-wide and subdivision level. DeJONG works with the county planning departments to determine development potential for the District. This potential development is analyzed in relation to where students live and the schools they attend.
 
 

 

School Attendance Boundary Planning

  

School Attendance Boundary Planning is a process used by school districts when it has become apparent that re-distribution of students among schools is necessary. This may be due to a variety of factors, including increasing or decreasing enrollment, housing trends, in and out migration, or facility capacity. DeJONG has developed a community-based process to ease tension and build consensus about an issue that is often controversial. The process includes both quantitative information, such as enrollment figures and use of GIS, and qualitative information, such as community input and stakeholder opinions.