The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) have been awarded the two-year Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grants from the Department of Education totaling $943,688. This grant aims to support WS/FCS in creating a comprehensive plan to modernize school choice and residential zones, fostering greater economic diversity across schools while enhancing transportation efficiency.  Read the full grant application.  The project will be carried out over four phases, culminating in the presentation of stakeholder-vetted models to the Board of Education for consideration and implementation.

• Analyze residential boundaries, including the current enrollment and attendance patterns within those boundaries, as well as the impact of existing school choice, zoning, and student assignment policies.

  • Visit the Our Schools page to view the current Boundary Map breakdown for Elementary, Middle and High schools.

• Engage stakeholders, including families, parents, caregivers, staff, and students, to gather feedback to develop a comprehensive plan aligned with Policy 5117: Assignment of Pupils.

• Develop potential revised models for residential boundaries to increase economic diversity in schools.

• Present a short-list of proposed residential boundary map models to the Board of Education for approval.

Phase I

Focus: Exploration, Assessment, Mapping and Modeling
Timeline: November 2023 - February 2024
Objective: Analyze current and historical enrollment and attendance patterns based on residential boundaries and choice plans.

Phase II

Focus: Stakeholder Engagement and Plan Development (PART 1)
Timeline: March - December 2024
Objective: Develop an engagement plan, and engage stakeholder voices (students, parents/guardians, staff, and community) across the entire district to provide information about the current and hear input regarding fostering economic diversity within residential boundaries.

Phase III

Focus: Stakeholder Engagement | Models Presented and Feedback (PART 2)
Timeline: January - June 2025
Objective: Share proposed residential boundary maps and allow students, parents/guardians, staff, and community to explore and provide additional feedback. Finalize the comprehensive plan and seek approval from the Board of Education.

Phase IV

Focus: Final Comprehensive Plan and Presentation to Board of Education
Timeline: July - September 2025
Objective: Refine proposed residential boundary map models and present final recommendation and implementation plan to Board of Education for vote.