About 23,000 students would attend new schools under a redistricting plan the county school system has proposed. Here's a look at key points about the redistricting proposal.

Have a question? Ask Reporter Laura Diamond via email — she's at ldiamond@ajc.com

Questions and Answers

A plan of this magnitude raises a lot of questions. We asked the school district for some answers.

Q: What is redistricting?

A: Redistricting is when school leaders set new attendance boundaries for schools. The change requires some students to attend different schools. The school system plans to open 15 new schools in the next two years.

Q: Will this affect me?

A: It depends. If your child's school is among the list of 36 affected schools, yes. If not, you're safe.

Here are the 36 schools: Alcova Elementary, Central Gwinnett High, Collins Hill High, Cooper Elementary, Creekland Middle, Dacula Elementary, Dacula High, Dacula Middle, Duncan Creek Elementary, Dyer Elementary, Fort Daniel Elementary, Freeman's Mill Elementary, Grayson Elementary, Grayson High, Harbins Elementary, Ivy Creek Elementary, Jones Middle, Lanier Middle, Lovin Elementary, Magill Elementary, McConnell Middle, McKendree Elementary, Mill Creek High, North Gwinnett High, Norton Elementary, Osborne Middle, Pharr Elementary, Richards Middle, Riverside Elementary, Rock Springs Elementary, Simonton Elementary, Sugar Hill Elementary, Sycamore Elementary, Taylor Elementary, Walnut Grove Elementary and Winn Holt Elementary.

Q: Will all students at the 36 schools be affected?

A: No. Some children may go to one of the new schools, others may transfer to a different existing campus. Many children will remain at their current school. It depends on where families live and which attendance zone their home falls into. For more information, check out the proposed attendance zone maps on the school district's Web site: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

Q: Will my child have to attend a different high school?

A: It depends. The district allows students who have completed at least one year of high school at an existing campus to remain there even if the redistricting would send the child elsewhere. But that child's family must provide his own transportation.

Q: Why is the district doing this?

A: The system is opening new schools to have enough classroom space to keep up with ever-growing enrollment. The district draws new boundaries when a school opens or to relieve crowding at some campuses.

Q: What if I have problems with these changes?

A: You have several options. Comment forms in English and Spanish can be found on the district's Web site. These forms must be turned in by Nov. 1. There also will be two public meetings, Nov. 13 and 15. And each school affected by the redistricting has a local boundary input committee that will collect feedback and provide the district with suggestions. Parents should contact their school principal for more information about the committees.

Q: How did the district decide which communities to rezone?

A: The school system's planning department looked at several factors, including enrollment trends, school buildings capacity, access and distance from schools and natural boundaries, such as creeks.

Q: In my subdivision, some children will go to one school and others to a different school. Why?

A: The school system tries to let all the children in one neighborhood go to the same school, but since some Gwinnett subdivisions are so large, with 700 or more homes, it's not possible.

Q: When will the school board vote on the redistricting plan?

A: The vote is scheduled for Dec. 13.

Q: Will there be more boundary changes after the vote?

A: Not immediately. But the school district expects to open new schools in 2010 and beyond. Attendance zones must be set for those new schools.

Does Gwinnett's redistricting plan affect you?

If your child attends one of these schools, your child may have to switch schools. If your child's school is not on the list, your family will not be affected by this round of redistricting:

Alcova Elementary

Central Gwinnett High

Collins Hill High

Cooper Elementary

Creekland Middle

Dacula Elementary

Dacula High

Dacula Middle

Duncan Creek Elementary

Dyer Elementary

Fort Daniel Elementary

Freeman's Mill Elementary

Grayson Elementary

Grayson High

Harbins Elementary

Ivy Creek Elementary

Jones Middle

Lanier Middle

Lovin Elementary

Magill Elementary

McConnell Middle

McKendree Elementary

Mill Creek High

North Gwinnett High

Norton Elementary

Osborne Middle

Pharr Elementary

Richards Middle

Riverside Elementary

Rock Springs Elementary

Simonton Elementary

Sugar Hill Elementary

Sycamore Elementary

Taylor Elementary

Walnut Grove Elementary

Winn Holt Elementary

Source: Gwinnett County Public Schools

What's next?

Here's a look at key dates in the redistricting process:

•Nov. 1: Deadline for people to weigh in on the plan by completing a comment form for the school system to review.

•Nov. 13: Public meeting to discuss proposed attendance boundaries — 7 to 9 p.m. in the board room at the Instructional Support Center at 437 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee.

•Nov. 15: A second public meeting — 7 to 9 p.m. in the board room at the Instructional Support Center at 437 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee.

• Dec. 5: Revised redistricting maps released.

•Dec. 13: School board votes on redistricting plan.

Learn More

Copies of a map showing the new attendance zones can be found on the school district's Web site: www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.