On Oct. 13, the School District of Lancaster administration presented a recommendation to convert E.R. Martin to a traditional middle school and close Wheatland Middle School as early as the 2029-30 school year.
Several factors influenced this recommendation, including building utilization, or how much of a school’s available classroom space is being used. What building utilization means, and where SDoL’s schools stand today, is the topic of this week’s Closer Look.
Building utilization is closely tied to enrollment, which we discussed in last week’s Closer Look. As student enrollment declines, schools that were built for larger student populations naturally become less full over time.
To evaluate how effectively school buildings are being used, SDoL relies on classroom space standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
PDE recommends a minimum of 35 square feet of classroom space per kindergarten student, 30 square feet per student in grades 1 through 6, and 25 square feet per student in grades 7 and above. Using those standards, we can estimate how many students a building was designed to accommodate and compare that number to actual enrollment.
These standards do not determine how many students we prefer to have in a classroom. For instructional reasons, we may choose smaller class sizes. However, they provide a consistent and objective way to evaluate how fully a school’s classroom space is being used.
Using this approach, buildings operating at 90 to 100 percent of capacity are generally considered efficiently utilized. Buildings between 80 and 90 percent are considered at risk for underutilization, while buildings below 80 percent are considered underutilized.
The 80 percent threshold is significant because it means one-fifth or more of a building’s student capacity is unused. When that happens, the district begins dedicating substantial resources to maintaining space that is not actively serving students.
90-100% Utilization: Buildings in this range are generally considered efficiently utilized based on PDE’s classroom space standards.
80-90% Utilization: The building remains fully functional, but a growing amount of classroom space is unused. As utilization declines, fixed costs such as utilities, maintenance, and custodial services are spread across fewer students.
Below 80% Utilization: At this level, a substantial portion of the building’s capacity is not being used. The district continues to heat, cool, clean, maintain, and repair space that serves fewer students than the building was designed to accommodate.
So, what are the utilization rates in our schools?
Based on preliminary Oct. 1 enrollment data, the average utilization rate across SDoL elementary schools is 78.1 percent under PDE standards. Rates range from a low of 49.9 percent at Lafayette Elementary School to 100 percent at Wharton Elementary School. Differences like these are one reason Board policy requires a review of elementary attendance zones every five years.
At the middle school level, average utilization is 63.4 percent and is more consistent across buildings. Wheatland Middle School is operating at 58.6 percent utilization, while Reynolds Middle School is at 63.7 percent. Martin, which currently serves 202 students in grades 6-8, is utilizing 56.4 percent of its capacity under PDE standards.
Building utilization is only one of many factors considered when evaluating the future of a school. Student enrollment trends, educational programming, transportation impacts, facility condition, neighborhood access, financial considerations, and community feedback all play important roles in the decision-making process.
However, utilization remains an important measure because it helps the district understand how effectively school buildings are being used and whether long-term facility investments align with current and projected enrollment. It is not, by itself, a reason to close a school, but it is one of several factors the district considers when planning for the future.
As discussions about the district’s long-range facilities plan continue, district leaders and the Board of School Directors will consider a wide range of information before making any final decisions. As part of our commitment to transparency, we will continue sharing the data and analysis that help inform those conversations.