The school board approved new attendance districts for both Crain’s Creek Middle and West Pine Elementary.

The board adopted the second option for Crain’s Creek Middle, which combines the attendance districts for Cameron Elementary and Vass-Lakeview Elementary. However, 17 students living in the western portion of the Cameron Elementary district will attend New Century because it is geographically closer and significantly reduces school bus ride times.

In its first year, 376 student will attend Crain’s Creek Middle. About 60 percent will be free and reduced lunch students. The student population at New Century Middle will drop to 503 students, well below its capacity of 789.

About 40 percent of New Century students are on free and reduced lunch this year.

The board adopted a modified attendance district for West Pine Elementary. The new plan assigns students in Pinehurst’s Village Acres neighborhood to Pinehurst Elementary rather than the new school. Village Acres is geographically closer to Pinehurst Elementary.

Next year, 394 students will attend West Pine Elementary, 336 will attend Pinehurst Elementary and 385 students will attend West End Elementary. It is estimated that 30 percent of the students at the new school will be on free and reduced lunch.

This year, 27 percent at Pinehurst Elementary students are on free and reduced lunch, while 42 percent of students at West End Elementary are.

Deputy Superintendent Larry Upchurch said he expected the student populations at the three schools would mirror each other “quite well.”

Purser said the revised plan achieves a “better balance” between the three schools.

Contact John Krahnert III at (910) 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com