The School District of Lancaster takes every student safety incident seriously, and, while we never want to have vulnerable students leave school unsupervised, elopement is a challenge faced by schools and families across the country. This week, we’re taking a closer look at student elopement, why it happens, and how schools work to reduce risk.
Thank you to the families, students, staff members, and community partners who participated in our Price Community Conversations. We appreciate everyone who took the time to attend a meeting, ask questions, share feedback, or review the information online. We’ve compiled answers to the most common questions we heard during the Community Conversations.
District leaders are sharing proposed attendance boundaries and student reassignment plans for current Price Elementary students as the school prepares to close following the 2026-2027 school year. Find out what’s being discussed at Community Conversations meetings this fall.
If enrollment stayed about the same, why did some school utilization percentages change? This week’s A Closer Look explains the district’s updated methodology, how capacity is calculated, and what utilization does—and does not—tell us about the future of our schools.
Building utilization, or how much of a school’s available classroom space is being used, is a key factor influencing the district’s recommendation to eventually close Wheatland Middle School. What building utilization means, and where SDoL’s schools stand today, is the topic of this week’s Closer Look.
Families and community members are invited to meet with district leaders, ask questions and offer feedback about the updated facilities recommendations during six conversations this fall.
As part of a long-term facilities and financial planning update the SDoL administration recommended closing Wheatland Middle School and converting E.R. Martin School into a traditional middle school beginning with the opening of the district’s new consolidated elementary school, currently scheduled for the 2029-2030 school year.
October 1 is the date each year on which school districts establish their official enrollment count for reporting to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Enrollment affects everything from accountability measures to grant eligibility and, in some cases, school funding.
As the project nears completion, some community members have asked why the district invested in such extensive renovations to McCaskey’s stadium. This week, we’re taking a Closer Look at the conditions that led to the project, the improvements that were made, and how the final cost compares to similar projects across Pennsylvania.
School District of Lancaster facilities host a wide range of activities beyond the school day, from youth sports and nonprofit programs to community meetings and special events. Recently, community members have raised questions about facility rental fees and how the district determines who pays to use school buildings and grounds.
The review, which is routine state oversight, is not limited to financial matters. Rather, it examines a range of district operations and compliance requirements, which may include financial procedures, employee certifications and clearances, school safety requirements, regulatory compliance, and other operational practices.