Del Mar school district considering boundary change

By Karen Billing

The Del Mar Union School District is considering a proposed boundary change for future East Pacific Highlands Ranch homes. The recommendation made by the facilities master plan outreach committee is that the boundary be changed for six Pacific Highlands Ranch developments, moving students from Sycamore Ridge to Ashley Falls School.

Jason Romero, assistant superintendent of human resources, said the developments represent 570 single and multifamily homes, which they project to generate around 250 students.

“When the units are fully occupied, Sycamore Ridge enrollment would exceed 1,000 students,” Romero said. “To offset high enrollment, we would allow new families to attend Ashley Falls.”

The boundary change would address not only the issue of high enrollment at Sycamore Ridge, but the declining enrollment at Ashley Falls.

Romero said it would be advantageous to the district to do the boundary change now, as it does not affect any current homeowners. Most of these families would probably need to drive to school anyway, Romero said, and the distance between campuses is minimal. Sycamore Ridge is about 2 1/4 miles from East Pacific Highlands Ranch, and Ashley Falls is about 2 1/2 miles away.

The boundary change was just a first read for the board. It is expected to be approved at a later date.