During a meeting on Tuesday night, parents raised concerns about overcrowding as district leaders defend consolidation plan.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Harrisburg School District is moving a step closer to closing two of its middle schools as part of a larger reconfiguration effort, prompting concerns from parents about overcrowding and student outcomes.
During a public hearing Tuesday night, school board members discussed the proposed closures of Marshall Academy and Rowland Academy.
District officials say the plan is part of a years-long effort to restructure the district’s middle school programs.
Leaders explained that Marshall Academy, which serves students based on attendance zones, would close. However, the Marshall Math and Science Academy, an application-only STEM program housed in the same building, would remain open. The two programs are considered separate schools under designations by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
“Marshall Academy was our attendance zone students who lived in the neighborhood, and Marshall Math Science Academy was our application STEM program. Both were housed in the same building,” said Assistant Superintendent Marisol Craig during the hearing.
Rowland Academy is already nearing the end of its transition. District leaders said the current eighth-grade class will be the school’s last after other grade levels were gradually phased out.
Officials say the decision comes after years of financial strain and academic struggles. According to a Rowland Academy school improvement plan, during the 2023–2024 school year, only 9.9% of students at the school were proficient in English language arts, while less than 1% were proficient in math.
If the closures are approved, affected students and staff would be absorbed into Camp Curtin Academy or other specialized programs in the district.
Some parents and residents, however, worry that consolidating students into fewer buildings could lead to overcrowding and classroom challenges.
“There was definite public outcry against putting all these students into one building,” said Harrisburg resident Melanie Cook.
Cook added, the district has attempted similar consolidations before, with negative results.
“It was a cataclysmic failure. The building was closed. Demolished and the land sold and yet we are turning around doing the same thing,” Cook said. “I invite you to go into Camp Curtain if you think 24 to 26 kids is an acceptable number of 12 to 14-year-olds, and better yet, try to teach them.”
Another parent, Rhonda Spartman, whose son attends Marshall Math and Science Academy, argued the changes could undermine the district’s efforts to address student behavior issues.
“He tells me that the kids that were getting into fights and suspended at Camp Curtain are at math and science. I don’t understand that,” Spartman said.
During her public address, Spartman paused, holding back tears before telling district leaders, “You guys are failing our kids.”
District leaders say renovations are already underway at Camp Curtin Academy to accommodate the additional students. Plans include converting part of the district’s enrollment office into five new classrooms, expanding the school’s capacity by about 100 students and adding a second cafeteria.
Officials estimate that after consolidation, average class sizes would range from 24 to 26 students, putting the school at about 80% capacity.
The closures are not yet final. Tuesday’s public hearing begins a 90-day waiting period required before the school board can take formal action.
The Harrisburg School Board is scheduled to vote on the closures during a meeting on June 30.
