A school district's long-range comprehensive master plan is a compilation of district policies, information, and statistical data that provides a basis for planning the construction, modification, and use of educational facilities to meet the community's changing needs. The master plan becomes the district's policy statement for allocating its resources and offers potential alternatives for facility improvement. Each school inventory should identify the use and size of each room. This allows planners to accurately determine the capacity of each school. Modifications to schools should be noted in the inventory so that it can be kept up to date.
Effective planning requires accurate enrollment projections.
These projections should be made for at least five years into the future. Accurate projections require planners to examine neighborhood demographics and track new construction activity in the district. Many school planners work in coordination with county and city planners to track growth patterns. Therefore, an effective enrollment management plan calls for adjustments in attendance zones whenever necessary, to ensure that all school facilities are used effectively and to avoid overcrowding at any one facility. While such adjustments often prove unpopular with parents and students, they are necessary if all students are to have appropriate access to school facilities.