Jefferson County school district to merge Whitney Young and Engelhard elementary schools – The Times of India

The Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Board has approved a plan to merge Whitney Young and Engelhard elementary schools, effective next school year. The decision, made on March 18, 2025, follows a district-wide review aimed at addressing declining enrollment at both schools. The merger will involve moving Whitney Young Elementary to a new location two miles away, where it will merge with Engelhard Elementary. This restructuring aims to optimize available resources and create a more sustainable educational environment.
The merger will also involve reassigning Hudson Middle School’s 6th-grade students to the Whitney Young building, which currently houses elementary students. Hudson’s 7th and 8th graders will remain in their existing building on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. The change is part of an ongoing effort to resolve space and enrollment challenges in JCPS.
Plan addresses low enrollment and overcrowding
District leaders have noted that both Whitney Young and Engelhard elementary schools have faced low enrollment in recent years. According to JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, the plan to merge the schools was “two years in the making” and aims to create a permanent home for both schools, which he believes will have a significant impact on students. “I believe this is going to be a game changer for both Young and Engelhard students,” he said, as quoted by WDRB.
The move also opens up space at the Whitney Young building, allowing for additional middle school students. The district plans to return Hudson Middle School to a single building for the 2027-28 school year, with a new facility under construction near 18th and Broadway, as reported by WDRB.
The merger marks the second significant move for Whitney Young students. Earlier this year, Whitney Young swapped buildings with Hudson Middle School to create additional space for middle school students, though the space was still insufficient.