Over 600 Henrico students set to change schools in fall 2026
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- More than 600 Henrico County students will likely attend different schools this upcoming school year after a lengthy redistricting process finally came to an end on Thursday.
During a work session on Thursday, Dec. 18, the Henrico County School Board voted 4-to-1 to approve a final boundary adjustment proposal -- one that makes substantial changes to which neighborhoods feed into which county schools.
These adjustments, which seek to relieve overcrowding at certain high schools, have been in the works for some time -- and they have been rather divisive. While this discussion began during the prior school year, in March, leaders chose to pause further debate until the fall.
In the months leading up to Thursday's vote, the community has provided feedback and the various proposals created by school leaders have repeatedly been tweaked.
The final set of boundary adjustment scenarios approved on Thursday is meant to address capacity concerns and feeder patterns at five Henrico schools -- those being Ruby F. Carver Elementary, Quioccasin Middle, Douglas S. Freeman High, J.R. Tucker High and Henrico High schools.
These changes, which will go into effect starting in the 2026-27 school year, are estimated to impact 664 students. While some students of select grades can choose to remain at their original school, their families will be responsible for getting them to and from school each day.
School board member Ryan Young, who supported the proposal, said it solves the school district's overcrowding issues in a "thoughtful and intentional way." However, Young stressed that, even though he feels this is the right thing to do for Henrico's overcrowded high schools, this was not an easy choice to make.
"The decision weighs heavily on me -- and probably some of my other board members here, as well," he said. "The process is tough, it's complicated, and it's not only the data and the planning, but you also have to have compassion ... and I just don't want the public to think that we take that lightly."
On the whole, the board praised the work of those tasked with creating and refining these proposals. This included school board member Alicia Atkins, who said she was happy that the process had been very interactive and transparent -- but she still worried that this was the wrong move, one that could ultimately harm students.
"Boundary changes should be a last resort," she said. "They should only be used when every other option has been fully exhausted and when the data shows a clear, long-term solution -- not a temporary fix."
Atkins said that she has spoken with Highland Springs High students and families who would be moved to Henrico High through one of the adjustments. They shared concerns about differences in support programs between the two schools, while also worrying about absenteeism among students who wanted to remain at Highland Springs, but may struggle to attend school without a bus that served them.
"One of the most important settings [for discussion] is sitting with students and asking them how they felt about the Henrico scenario -- and it was shocking, because not one of them supported it," she said. "And I then began reaching out to Highland Springs High School alumni to get their thoughts, as well ... and not one of those individuals I spoke to supported it."
Atkins encouraged the board to "fully exhaust all alternatives" and voted against the proposal. All other school board members voted in favor of it.
Here's a breakdown of the approved adjustments:
Carver Elementary School adjustment
Approved boundary adjustment for Ruby F. Carver Elementary. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools/Henrico County School Board)
An estimated eight students will be moved from Maybeury Elementary to Ruby F. Carver Elementary starting in the 2026-27 school year. This includes students living in the Patterson West area, per the school district's website.
Current 4th-graders will be given the option to remain at Maybeury for their 5th-grade year. However, families who opt-in will be required to provide transportation to and from school for their child.
School leaders estimate that Carver Elementary's functional capacity will increase from 92.5% to 94% as a result of this change.
Quioccasin Middle School adjustment
Approved boundary adjustment for Quioccasin Middle. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools/Henrico County School Board)
An estimated six students will be moved from Tuckahoe Middle to Quioccasin Middle starting in the 2026-27 school year. This includes students living in the Patterson West area, per the school district's website.
Current 6th-graders will be given the option to remain at Tuckahoe through 8th grade. However, families who opt-in will be required to provide transportation to and from school for their child.
School leaders estimate that Quioccasin Middle's functional capacity will increase from 73.2% to 78.9% as a result of this change.
Freeman High School adjustment
Approved boundary adjustment for Freeman High. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools/Henrico County School Board)
An estimated 133 students will be moved from Douglas S. Freeman High to Mills Godwin High starting in the 2026-27 school year. This includes students living in the Candlewood, Gates Head, Pinedale West, Ednam Forest, Cabin Creek and Patterson West areas, per the school district's website.
Current 9th, 10th and 11th graders will be given the option to remain at Freeman for the remainder of their high school career. However, families who opt-in will be required to provide transportation to and from school for their child.
School leaders estimate that Freeman's functional capacity will decrease from 101.4% to 94.4% as a result of this change. Meanwhile, Godwin's functional capacity is estimated to increase from 87.9% to 94.3%.
J.R. Tucker High School adjustment
Approved boundary adjustment for J.R. Tucker High. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools/Henrico County School Board)
An estimated 274 students will be moved from J.R. Tucker High to Hermitage High starting in the 2026-27 school year. This includes students living in the Bonnie Brae, Glenside Woods, Wistar Place and West Chase Townhomes areas, per the school district's website.
Current 9th, 10th and 11th graders will be given the option to remain at Tucker for the remainder of their high school career. However, families who opt-in will be required to provide transportation to and from school for their child.
School leaders estimate that Tucker's functional capacity will decrease from 102.4% to 88.6% as a result of this change. Meanwhile, Hermitage's functional capacity is estimated to increase from 82.2% to 86.9%.
Henrico High School adjustment
Approved boundary adjustment for Henrico High. (Photo: Henrico County Public Schools/Henrico County School Board)
An estimated 242 students will be moved from either Hermitage High or Highland Springs High to Henrico High starting in the 2026-27 school year. This includes students living in the Chamberlayne Farms, Lakeside Terrace, Central Gardens, Woodville and Fairways areas, per the school district's website.
Current 9th, 10th and 11th graders will be given the option to remain at their original high school for the remainder of their high school career. However, families who opt-in will be required to provide transportation to and from school for their child.
School leaders estimate that Highland Springs' functional capacity will decrease from 86.1% to 83.1% as a result of this change, while Hermitage's is set to increase due to the J.R. Tucker High adjustment.
Henrico's functional capacity is estimated to increase from 62.8% to 80.6%.
For more information on this redistricting process, click here.
