BURBANK : School Board Widens Attendance Area

The Burbank Unified School District has widened an optional attendance area within the city, giving parents of high school students there more of a choice in schools.

The school board approved the change, which affects an area of Burbank that now has 400 high school students.

It enlarges a smaller, optional attendance area set up two years ago. That area, bordered by Victory Boulevard and Empire Avenue, had been carved out of what was formerly Burbank High territory. Many of the students in the area decided to go to John Burroughs High School rather than Burbank High.

The new area includes all of the area between San Fernando and Victory boulevards in northern Burbank, taking in the residential area east of Burbank Airport.

Enlarging the area is likely to further correct an imbalance in the student populations at the two schools. Before the latest action was taken, the district had predicted that enrollment at Burbank High would grow from its current 1,922 students to 2,577 at the end of the decade, said Assistant Supt. David Aponik. John Burroughs’ enrollment was predicted to grow from 1,680 students to 2,054.

But with the enlargement of the area, John Burroughs is projected to have 2,154 students at the end of the decade. Burbank High’s enrollment is expected to reach 2,477.

The change makes enrollment within the area voluntary for any new high school student, either one moving into the district or graduating from middle school, said Supt. Arthur Pierce. The decision does not affect students now going to high school.

Aponik said the district will have to watch the figures closely over the next five to seven years and decide whether they will have to make mandatory changes to the attendance areas.

“Right now we’re giving them a chance to let the option of voluntary attendance take effect,” Aponik said.