Brandywine School District presents reorganization plan amid rising enrollments

The Brandywine Area Reorganization Plan took center stage during the Board of Education's Special Virtual Boundary Hearing on April 17, 2025, as officials outlined critical changes to address significant enrollment growth in the region. Supervisor Rhianna McCarter presented a detailed overview of the plan, highlighting the need for adjustments due to the area's rapid residential development.

Over the past decade, Brandywine has seen the construction of approximately 1,600 new homes, with projections indicating an additional 1,400 single-family and townhomes, along with 1,300 multifamily units in the next seven to ten years. This surge has led to overcrowding at Brandywine Elementary, prompting the decision to relocate kindergarten classes to Baden Elementary for the upcoming school years.

The plan also includes the construction of a new K-8 facility through the Blueprint 2 Schools program, initially intended to accommodate 2,000 students. However, budget constraints have reduced its capacity to 1,500 seats, resulting in a projected deficit of 300 seats upon opening. To manage this, the district will implement a lower and upper school concept, allowing grades Pre-K through 2 to remain at Brandywine Elementary while grades 3 through 8 transition to the new academy.

The proposed attendance boundaries will unify the current areas of Brandywine and Baden Elementary, ensuring that students from both schools have access to the new facility. Transportation improvements are also anticipated, with fewer stops due to the consolidation of schools.

As the Board prepares for a vote on April 24, the community is encouraged to engage with the process, with resources available for questions and feedback. The reorganization plan aims to address the pressing needs of the Brandywine area while ensuring that educational quality remains a priority.