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Products and Services...
Enrollment Projections
Projections of student enrollment are primarily based on new home construction in fast growth school districts. Over time, SDS has developed formulas for estimating the number of students that can be expected from each new home in a district. Many factors are considered, including: historical and current enrollment, price range of homes built and stage of development. Incorporating formulas with specific information about a district allows SDS to project with confidence student enrollment for the next 1-2 years (error rate typically less than 3%) and give excellent insight into the next 3-10 years for the district.
Forecasting Facility Needs
Projections of future enrollment help facility planners determine the need for facilities, modify attendance zones and change class sizes. SDS compares the number of expected students to current school capacities and utilizes GIS technology to revise attendance zones and advise districts on new school locations.
Demographic Studies
A demographic study identifies the specifics of a district, past and present. Housing starts, infrastructure, facility capacities, state and local comparisons and other characteristics of a district are researched to provide a 24-month housing forecast and a 10-year enrollment forecast by campus. GIS software is used to blend data with the current student population. Demographic studies can be a one-time service; however, an updated quarterly service as part of a full subscription service is recommended.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology
GIS software is used to create planning areas that include the location of the student population and of existing and future new home communities. Students are geo-coded by address and school and identified according to specific characteristics including grade level, school, LEP/bilingual status and participation in special programs. As attendance zones change, the SDS system automatically updates the student map to allow immediate visualization
of different scenarios. SDS works with facility planners to maximize efficiency of existing schools and minimize the need for changes in attendance zone boundaries. SDS provides detailed, color maps and aerial photos that reflect the changes in a district.
School Board Presentations and Quarterly Briefings
All SDS data is incorporated into a clear and organized report and several copies are provided to a district. SDS representatives also meet with full-service clients each quarter to discuss forecasts and provide new information about the district. The meetings provide assurances that the district has the information it needs to plan effectively for the future. SDS will attend two board meetings each year to present information and address questions.
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