Some ninth-graders in the Corona-Norco schools could get the option of staying in middle school an extra year, in a move to relieve enrollment pressure at the high schools.
The Board of Education on Tuesday discussed a voluntary program for ninth-graders at El Cerrito Middle School, which now has sixth- through eighth-graders.
The school has a capacity of 1,500 and currently houses about 800 students, said Ted Rozzi, the district's assistant superintendent for facilities.
The district is now in negotiations for a site to build its sixth comprehensive high school but doesn't anticipate it opening before 2010.
A program for ninth-graders at El Cerrito could relieve crowding at Santiago High School, which now has 4,050 students and is expected to grow.
"If we don't do something to address crowding at Santiago, we will need to change the boundaries again," board member Cathy Sciortino said.
She and board member Bill Hedrick suggested looking at a magnet school program at El Cerrito, possibly focused on the sciences.
The program could attract 200 to 300 ninth-graders from Santiago and possibly Centennial High School, Hedrick said.
Ninth-graders would go to El Cerrito by choice and because they want the benefit of a special program, Hedrick said.
"There's no way, unless there is some interesting twist, that we're going to be able to hold ninth-graders at a middle school and make them happy," he said.
The district is negotiating with developer Ali Sahabi over land that could serve as the new Rancho Serrano High School near his Dos Lagos development at Cajalco and Temescal Canyon roads.
Sahabi has broached the possibility of an emphasis on environmental science at Rancho Serrano.
Sciortino said a strong science program at El Cerrito ultimately could tie into programs offered at Rancho Serrano.
Reach Shirin Parsavand at 951-893-2109 or sparsavand@PE.com
Copyright The Press-Enterprise Co.
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