Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-11
SCHOOL SHORTAGE
BEING OVERTAKEN,
BALLOU REPORTS
Building Need Assured of
Material Cut by Feb
ruary.
REQUIREMENTS LISTED
TO MIDDLE OF '32 TERM
1872 Elementary Rooms and Accom-
modations for 1852 High Pupils
Set as Next Term Lack.

Despite a need by February /, 1882,
Tor 1872 elementary class rooms and
accommodations for 1852 junior and
senior high school students, the Dis
trict OF Columbia public school sys-
tenn is gradually overtaking its build
ing shortages. This is indicated in
the annual report of DR.. Frank w.
Ballou, superintendent of schools part
of which was made public today.
In summarizing the needs and build
ing attainmentS of the local school
system, DR.. Ballou listed the school
middle of the 1928 school year.
While 1872 elementary class rooms will
be needed next February. the antici-
pated need will be reduced to 124 class
rooms by February /, 1888. Likewise,
while the junior high school this Febru-
airy will accommodate 5486 students,
the total shortage will be reduced to
1851 pupil accommodations by Febru-
airy, 1888. The senior high school
shortage, which this February is ex-
pected to be 2,466, will be reduced to
2,166 by the same date of the fol-
lowing year.
In his detailed statement, DR.. Ballou
shows that November l, 1880. there was
tary class rooms. The increased enroll
ment of that year, requiring 80 more
class rooms, gave the system shortage
of BOT class rooms last June. BY eSti-
mating 30 more class rooms for the
increased enrolment at the beginning
of the current term, the elementary
schools reached September l, 1881,
needing 1877 more rooms.
"a Rooms Made Available.
BY transferring the Monroe and the
Smallwood School to the colored divi-
sion, however, "a rooms were made
available. New construction provided
81 rooms, and the transfer of certain
seventh and eighth grade classes to
junior high schools, added another 40
elementary class rooms. These changes
have been and are being put into effect
during the current semester. Hence,
the accumulated shortage will be re-
duced to 1872 rooms by February l.,
1882.
Further reductions will be made by
June, Dr. Ballou'S report shows. New
buildings yet to be opened will provide
IA more roons and the transfer of
further seventh and eighth grades TO
new junior high schools will provide an
additional 81 class rooms. Thus the
current year will close with a shortage
of lat elementary class rooms.
Allowing 80 class rooms as the need
for increased enrolment, the elementary
system will reach September /, 1889,
with a shortage of lit rooms. From
this total, however, DR.. Ballou would
deduct So rooms, including IA made
available through the transfer of the
old Business High School from the white
senior high school list to the colored
division fhFni1n6 ,rfr rpkf TOW,
and IL from the transfer of more sew
enth and eighth grades to junior high
schools. Thus, by February l, 1888, the
total shortage will be 124 rooms.
Junior Needs Outlined.
In discussing junior high school
needs, DR.. Ballou'S report shows that
total junior high needs in September
were accommodations for 1906.
New buildings, however, provided &C
commodations for 1920 pupils during
the current term, so that by January /
the shortage Will have been reduced to
5,486. BY next June the total will be
reduced further by accommodations for
1925 pupils. The total junior high
shortage next September / is expected
to be 1851 by February /, 1888.
While showing some improvement, the
senior high school outlook Is not as
bright. Last June the senior high
schools had accumulated a shortage Of
2,O86 pupil accommodations. This
number was increased on September |
1881, to 1886. From this total DR.. Bal
lou has deducted 470 pupil accommoda-
lions which were made available by
holding back that number of ninth
grade pupils in the junior high school.
Herce the senior high schools face a
shol tage Of 2,466 accommodations on
February !. 1882.
BY retaining 400 more ninth-grade
pupils in junior high during the second
half OF the current school year. the
senior high shortage will be reduced to
2,066 by June 30, 1882. Allowing $50
for the increased high school enroll
ment at the beginning of next year, DR..
Ballou believes that branch of the
school system will open the 1928
school year needing 2,916 additional
pupil accommodations BY retaining
400 ninth-grade pupils In new Junior
high schools next Fall, by the transfer
of the Cardozo High School to the old
Business High School Building, with a
saving of SO accommodations, and the
opening of the new Roosevelt High
School, which will provide 400 addi-
tional accommodations, the accunu-
lated shortage in the senior high schools
will be reduced to 2166 pupil accom-
modations by February /, 1888.