North Heights Community Engagement

Recently, there has been discussion about the need for a neighborhood school in the North Heights area of Amarillo.

Currently, Carver Elementary Academy (2nd through 5th grades) and Carver Early Childhood Academy (pre-kindergarten through 1st grades), both magnet schools, are able to serve some but not all of the students from the neighborhood.

At the March 20, 2017, School Board meeting, the Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees discussed the District’s voluntary desegregation plan relating to the two Carver schools and the North Heights neighborhood.  After hearing a presentation regarding the history of the desegregation plan and the Carver magnet schools, as well as information about student demographics, bussing, and the concept of a neighborhood school for the North Heights area, the Board voted unanimously to engage in discussions with the North Heights community, and to appoint a Board committee to study these issues. 

Board President Jim Austin appointed trustees James Allen, John Ben Blanchard, and Eric Darnell to serve on the committee. Superintendent Dr. Dana West, Chief Operations Officer Brent Hoover and other members of Administration will be working closely with the Board committee throughout the community engagement process.    

A video of the March 20, 2017, Board meeting is available here (link opens in a new window). Minutes of the meeting are available here (link opens in a new window).

Amarillo ISD hosted a series of community meetings in May of 2017 for Carver parents, North Heights parents, and others who live in the North Heights neighborhood or who were interested in this topic.

Dr. West gave the Board updates at the August 2017, December 2017, January 2018, March 2018, April 2018 and June 2018 Board meetings. To access videos of the Board meetings please click here (link opens in a new window). During these reports, Dr. West informed the Board that the committee reviewed feedback from the community engagement, reached out to the Office of Civil Rights for further guidance, gathered additional parent input through a survey in early September 2017, and continues to review relevant data. 

In November 2018, Trustees John Ben Blanchard, Robin Malone and Interim Superintendent Doug Loomis continued committee discussions regarding potential changes to the District's voluntary desegregation plan. The next update will be at the December 17, 2018, regular Board meeting.

You are also encouraged to submit your comments, suggestions, thoughts or concerns about a neighborhood school concept for North Heights to northheights@amaisd.org.

Thank you for being a part of this important discussion!