The district’s announced schedule calls for notices by Oct. 1 ahead of the 2027-28 changes. Families choosing to keep an affected student at the current school would provide transportation.
WS Chronicle | Staff Report
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County families affected by new school boundaries are approaching a decision that reaches beyond the classroom: whether to accept a new school assignment or arrange transportation to keep their child at the current school.
In its May implementation update, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said affected families would be notified by Oct. 1, 2026, and could choose to remain at their current school by Nov. 1 if they provide their own transportation. The boundaries are scheduled to take effect in the 2027-28 school year. District implementation update
The school board approved the new residential boundaries in May. The district estimates that about 11.7% of student addresses fall within different zones under the revised maps. That figure describes addresses affected by the boundary changes, rather than a confirmed count of children who will move to another school.
For parents, the option to stay puts transportation at the center of the decision. Keeping a child at a familiar school would require a dependable way to get there and home under the district’s announced plan.
The notification schedule does not mean students must change schools this fall. The new boundaries begin the following school year, giving families time to prepare after learning how their address is affected.
Why the district redrew the lines
The district says its residential zones have been in place for about 30 years and that population shifts have made transportation less efficient. Officials expect the revised boundaries to shorten routes and reduce the number of students separated from classmates as they advance to middle or high school.
Its May implementation summary projected an average reduction of 1.19 miles per bus route and a 31% reduction in feeder splits — instances in which students from one school move on to different schools. Those figures describe expected benefits, not results measured after implementation.
The board approved implementation in a 6-3 vote. Some members questioned whether the district could manage a major assignment change while recovering from its financial crisis.
Frank Pantano, a district official helping lead the boundary project, argued that the existing boundaries already required additional routes, drivers and staff time, WFDD reported.
Where families can get help
The district’s public school locator allows residents to search an address for residential-school information. It lists the Student Assignment Office at 336-748-3302 for assistance. WS/FCS School Locator
Families checking an assignment should confirm which school year the information covers. The locator’s public instructions reviewed for this article did not identify the displayed assignments as the final 2027-28 boundaries.
The reviewed implementation announcement also did not explain how families must submit their decision to stay. Parents seeking that option should ask the Student Assignment Office for the correct process, confirmation of the applicable deadline and instructions for resolving an address or assignment error.