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