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Granite School District > Planning & Boundaries > 2025 Population Analysis Studies & Data

2025 Population Analysis Studies & Data

Indefinite Pause on the Current Area 5 Study

Please see email below that was sent to all Area 5 parents following the November 18, 2025, School Board Meeting and Public Hearing. Board Meeting Live Stream – 11/18/2025

Please note:

  • The public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 7:00 PM at Granite Education Center has been canceled due to the decisions made at the November 18th meeting (see the November 2025 email update below)

Dear Granite District Families,

Tonight, the Granite School District Board of Education held a regular meeting to discuss the current recommendations from the Population Analysis Committee (PAC). A public hearing on the Area 5 Boundary and Closure Study was also held. At the meeting, the Board of Education voted to put an indefinite pause on the current Area 5 study. This means that there will be no school closures, programmatic changes, or boundary adjustments for the foreseeable future. The public hearing that was scheduled for December 2nd will also be canceled as it is no longer necessary.

This rationale for this decision included but was not limited to the following:

  • Concerns over the limitations of the current recommendations that do not address the comprehensive needs and nuances of this study. 
  • Distrust in our processes and procedures. Concerns that we lack community buy-in to the small school challenges and possible solutions. 
  • Current legislation being proposed that may impact how the board makes these decisions. 
  • Perceptions that our process is biased and unfair. We want our community to have confidence in our processes and decision-making.

We invite you to click here and watch a recording of the meeting, starting at 42:30, to hear the presentation and board member vote and comments. Board Meeting Live Stream – 11/18/2025

We are deeply appreciative of the community for engaging with the district throughout this process. We anticipate additional information in the coming weeks. Please visit our boundary study website for all available meeting recordings and presentations since the study started in February 2025.

Sincerely, 

Granite School District
boundaries@graniteschools.org

General PAC Study information

Due to population declines throughout the district, the Population Analysis Committee (PAC) continues to study various regions of the district. The study process is almost a full calendar year with many opportunities for community input before a decision is made to adjust school boundaries or close schools. More details about the process can be found on the Population Analysis Studies Overview page.

Provide Feedback/Enviar Comentarios
Email boundaries@graniteschools.org

Area 5 – 2025 Focus of Study

Area 5 includes the following elementary schools, listed in alphabetical order: Cottonwood, Crestview, Driggs, Eastwood, Morningside, Oakridge, Oakwood, Penn, Rosecrest, and Upland Terrace.

This page is where you will find updates to the current study, with the latest updates at the top. Links to relevant data are located at the bottom of this page.

Study Updates

Map showing the 10 schools in the Area 5 study

Next Steps – Public Hearings at Board Meeting

  • Public Hearing at School Board Meeting Tuesday, November 18, 7:00 PM at Granite Education Center (2500 S State Street, SLC, UT 84115)
  • The public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 7:00 PM at Granite Education Center has been canceled due to the decisions made at the November 18th meeting (see the November 2025 email update below)

November 2025

The email below was sent to all Area 5 parents following the November 18th School Board Meeting and Public Hearing:

Dear Granite District Families,

Tonight, the Granite School District Board of Education held a regular meeting to discuss the current recommendations from the Population Analysis Committee (PAC). A public hearing on the Area 5 Boundary and Closure Study was also held. At the meeting, the Board of Education voted to put an indefinite pause on the current Area 5 study. This means that there will be no school closures, programmatic changes, or boundary adjustments for the foreseeable future. The public hearing that was scheduled for December 2nd will also be canceled as it is no longer necessary.

This rationale for this decision included but was not limited to the following:

  • Concerns over the limitations of the current recommendations that do not address the comprehensive needs and nuances of this study. 
  • Distrust in our processes and procedures. Concerns that we lack community buy-in to the small school challenges and possible solutions. 
  • Current legislation being proposed that may impact how the board makes these decisions. 
  • Perceptions that our process is biased and unfair. We want our community to have confidence in our processes and decision-making.

We invite you to click here and watch a recording of the meeting, starting at 42:30, to hear the presentation and board member vote and comments.

We are deeply appreciative of the community for engaging with the district throughout this process. We anticipate additional information in the coming weeks. Please visit our boundary study website for all available meeting recordings and presentations since the study started in February 2025.

Sincerely, 

Granite School District

boundaries@graniteschools.org

October 2025

Meetings:

Salt Lake Tribune News Article

Utah’s K-12 public enrollment sees largest dip in 25 years. This article was published October 23, 2025.

September 2025

Meetings:


The following email was sent to all Morningside and Woodstock Advanced Reader and Learner Center families on September 19, 2025.

Dear Advanced Reader and Advanced Learner Center patrons,

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Advanced Reader and Advanced Learning Center parent meeting on September 11, 2024, at Morningside Elementary. Based on your feedback and the questions you shared, we want to provide some answers and clarity.

In response to the community’s suggestions, the Board and district would like to study these programs further, including the potential of expanding and enhancing the services we provide to our advanced learners. As a result, we have decided to no longer pursue the consolidation of the programs currently housed at Woodstock and Morningside elementary schools. Instead, the district will maintain two separate program locations on the east side of the district, with the programs at Woodstock remaining in their current location, and a new location for the Morningside programs yet to be determined to meet the needs of the community.

Additionally, to help reduce confusion about the elementary gifted program, we have updated and summarized the Guidelines (Google Doc) and clarified the information provided on the Gifted and Talented page of the Granite School District website. Finally, we have provided a short ALC Data slide deck (PDF) representing current Advanced Reader and Advanced Learner Center data trends as requested at the meeting.

Feedback and summary from ALC parents from Sept 11-Sept 19.



The following email was sent to all families in the study area on September 2, 2025.

Dear Granite School District Families and Staff,

In February of this year, the Population Analysis Committee (PAC) was tasked with studying ten elementary schools on the east side of the district for possible closure and/or boundary/programmatic adjustments. 

At tonight’s Granite Board of Education Meeting (Sep. 2nd), a narrowed PAC recommendation was presented to the board. The narrowed PAC recommendations include:

  • Closure of Eastwood Elementary.
    • Eastwood’s boundary would merge with Oakridge Elementary.
  • Closure of Morningside Elementary as a boundary school, keeping the building open as a K-5 French Dual Immersion stand-alone school.
    • Morningside’s boundaries would merge with Rosecrest and Driggs Elementary schools. 
    • The ALC program at Morningside would be merged with Woodstock Elementary. 

Click here to view the slides that were used in the presentation (PDF)

A recording of the meeting is embedded below. The PAC presentation starts at 54:10 and ends at 2:02:55.

Please remember, these are only recommendations and not a final decision. Any final decision will be made after two readings and votes on the recommendations in November and December 2025. Any approved changes are anticipated to take effect in Fall 2026.

An additional two public meetings will be to obtain feedback on the formal recommendations still being considered as follows:

  • Olympus High – Sept. 22nd @ 6pm
  • Skyline High – Sept. 23rd @ 6pm
  • Additional meetings as necessary prior to final hearings in November and December

We are sympathetic to the stress and uncertainty these studies can cause a school community. Closing a school is not a task the PAC, Board of Education, or the District Administration take lightly. The overarching goal of our population analysis studies is to recommend changes that improve opportunities, resources and outcomes for our students. We will continue to update our families and employees as the process continues.

If you have any questions, please email boundaries@graniteschools.org

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Granite School District

August 2025

August 6, 2025, Joint Subcommittee Presentation (PDF)

July 2025

The following email was sent to all families in the study area on July 16, 2025.

Dear Granite School District Families,

Thank you for your continued involvement in our school boundary and closure study. Your feedback is essential as we work to ensure the best outcomes for all students.

The Population Analysis Committee (PAC) is reviewing data and community input, and no decisions have been made at this point in time. Community engagement efforts so far have included large public meetings, city council discussions, school-based meetings, and a Superintendent Town Hall. Videos are available on our website for individuals who were unable to attend in person, and you can still provide feedback or ask questions using our online form or by emailing us at boundaries@graniteschools.org.

We also formed a special Community Subcommittee of parents, teachers, and city representatives to provide additional feedback. This group will help inform the PAC, but only the PAC makes formal recommendations to the Board. The Community Subcommittee will meet at least two more times before the September Board of Education meeting.

What’s next:

  • The PAC will make a recommendation to narrow the focus of the study at the September 2nd board meeting.
  • Two more public meetings will be held at 6 PM: Skyline High (Sept. 23) and Olympus High (Sept. 25) to obtain feedback on the formal recommendations still being considered. 
  • Additional meetings may be scheduled in October as necessary.
  • The Board will hold public hearings in November and December as part of the final approval of any changes.
  • Any approved changes are anticipated to take effect in Fall 2026. Students impacted by closures or boundary changes will be able to attend their new boundary school.
  • We’ll continue to notify you of opportunities to participate. For meeting videos, feedback links, and more info, click here. 

What Do Teachers and Staff Have to Say? 

This May, several teachers and staff members at two elementary schools in the study area generously took the time to sit down and participate in a recorded discussion about the boundary study and challenges of being in small schools. Highlights of those discussions can be found by clicking here. 

District Split

As part of this study, Granite School District has received questions about how a district split would impact Granite School District. The District does not take an official position on the idea of a split, nor does the district have the authority to initiate a split. However, click here to see how data from recent splits in the State of Utah present concerns that warrant consideration. 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this message. We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,
Granite School District

June 2025

Email update sent to all parents and staff in the study area.

The following email was sent on June 13, 2025, to all parents and staff, of elementary and secondary schools.

Dear Granite School District Families,

We want to thank you for your continued engagement in our school boundary and closure study. Your feedback and involvement are vital as we work to ensure the best educational outcomes for all students in our district.

The Population Analysis committee is actively reviewing data, community input, and potential options. No decisions have been made yet, and your voice continues to play a critical role.

Granite has sponsored the following events in order to engage the community on the study. Videos are available on our website for individuals who were unable to attend in person. You can still provide feedback or ask questions using our online form or by emailing us at boundaries@graniteschools.org.

  • Two large public meetings with Q&A were held at Skyline and Olympus High in March.
  • District meetings with Salt Lake County Council, Emigration Canyon Council, Holladay City Council, and Millcreek City Council.
  • Multiple smaller group and school-based meetings based on community requests.
  • Superintendent Town Hall held in late May.

This year, the Granite School District added a new element to the boundary and closure study process by organizing a School Community Council/Community Leader Subcommittee. This group has met several times to provide further feedback and insights from each community. This subcommittee is made up of two parent members from each SCC and one teacher from each school in the study area. In addition, there is representation from Millcreek and Holladay cities. This creates a representative group comprised of over 40 members whose role is to help the Population Analysis Committee (PAC) better understand the nuances and sometimes respective interests that exist in each school community. Their role is different from the PAC in that only the PAC makes formal recommendations to the GSD Board. The subcommittee provides feedback, insight, and suggestions to the PAC. While their input is strongly considered, they are not a decision-making body. The PAC considers the subcommittee’s feedback, along with all other voices in the community, as it proceeds towards formal recommendations to the board.

Here are the next steps in the study:

  • Granite School District’s Population Analysis Committee (PAC) will continue to meet over the summer. The PAC will make a recommendation to narrow the focus of the study at the September board meeting.
  • Two more public meetings will be held. One at Skyline High on September 23rd and the other at Olympus High on September 25th, both starting at 6pm.
  • Additional meetings may be scheduled in October as necessary to continue to obtain feedback.
  • Initial approval by the board for any closures/boundary/program changes as part of a first reading will take place in November with a public hearing.
  • Final board approval of any closures/boundary/program changes will take place in December, again with a public hearing tied to the vote. 
  • Any approved changes will go into effect fall of 2026. Remember, if your out of boundary student is impacted by a school closure or boundary change we want to assure you that your student will have the opportunity to remain in their new boundary school in the fall of 2026. 

We will continue to notify you ahead of any public hearings or decision-making meetings so you have the opportunity to participate and share your perspective.

Thank you for being an important part of this process as we work together to create the best path forward for our students and schools.

Please follow this link for meeting recordings, feedback links, and further information about the boundary study: 2025 Population Analysis Studies and Data

Sincerely,

Granite School District

May 2025

Joint School Community Council Subcommittee

This year, the Granite School District added a new wrinkle to the boundary and closure study process by organizing a Joint School Community Council Subcommittee to provide further feedback and insights from each community. This subcommittee is made up of two parent members from each SCC and one teacher from each school. In addition, any city council member from local municipalities is invited to serve on this subcommittee. This creates a representative group comprised of over 40 members.

The parent SCC members are selected by each school’s council chair. These elected parents are charged with representing their respective school communities in many key decisions throughout their tenure, and this role is no different.

The teacher rep is appointed by the school principal and provides unique insight into the impact on their school from an employee perspective.

The participating city council members, of course, have the responsibility to represent all their constituents and are a valued voice in this process.

This subcommittee’s role is to help the Population Analysis Committee (PAC) better understand the nuances and sometimes competing interests that exist in each community. Their role is different from the PAC in that only the PAC makes recommendations to the GSD Board. The subcommittee provides feedback, insight, and suggestions to the PAC. While their input is strongly considered, they are not a decision-making body. The PAC considers the subcommittee’s feedback, along with all other voices in the community, as it eventually makes recommendations to the board.

Superintendent Town Council

Join Superintendent Horsley and members of the Granite Board of Education for an Open House Meeting about the ongoing elementary boundary and closure study. They’ll also be available for a general district Q&A to answer any questions you may have.

April 2025

Joint SCC Meeting Scheduled

As a follow up to the two public open house meetings held in March, all Area-5 School Community Council (SCC) members are encouraged to attend and collaborate in a Joint SCC meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 16th at 6 pm at Churchill Jr High, in the Media Center.

March 2025 Public Open Houses Scheduled

We will be holding 2 open house meetings to provide information, discuss the process, and obtain feedback from the community:

If you are not able to attend in-person, these meetings will be recorded and available for viewing here on this website. As a reminder, this process is in its early phase and no final decisions will be made until December 2025.

March 2025 Open House Mailer

Spreading the word

February 25, 2025, open house information was sent from the communications department through email and text to all staff and families of students attending Area 5 schools. Postcards will be mailed to all households within the area and should hit mailboxes in early March. Schools in the area will have yard signs and posters announcing the open houses. Reminder phone calls will be sent to student families through blackboard the week of the meeting.

February 2025 PAC Update

PAC (Population Analysis Committee) recommendation for 2025 area of study was presented at GSD School Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The board unanimously approved the PAC’s recommendation to move forward with a study of area 5 during the 2025 school year. This study focuses on the elementary level but on occasion the domino effect from elementary closures / changes may impact secondary schools. View the video or the PDF presentation from board meeting for more specifics.

New 2025-2026 Boundary Maps
2025-2026 School Search

January 2025 PAC Update

Transition meetings with schools affected by 2024 study continue throughout the spring to ensure smooth transition. More information about last year’s study can be found on the page 2024 Population Analysis Studies & Data

Personalized postcards mailed to all families affected by 2024 study

As a follow up to the personalized emails sent in December, personalized postcards were mailed from the communications office to all families affected by the 2024 study. These postcards hit mailboxes by mid-January. Receiving schools are busy reaching out to families new to their boundaries to welcome them and let them know that a special permit is required if they want to stay at former location. The deadline to submit special permits for early open enrollment is February 7, 2025. Specific information about special permits is found on the Open Enrollment page.

Transportation

Our transportation department is working on getting busing routes/scheduling updated for all of the approved closures, re-opens, and changes from the December 10th Board Meeting. We will be posting an updated School Search with busing eligibility filters when they are ready, the estimated time is currently mid-April. For specific questions, you can reach out to transportation via their website, Granite School District Transportation, but please be patient as they work through all of these changes as well.

Please note that general guidelines set by the government require that to qualify for busing, you must live more than 1.5 miles from an elementary school, and more than 2 miles from junior high or high school.

Student Mobility

Tables of where students residing in a boundary were attending and where students attending a school were residing can be found on our Mobility Page.

Current Study

Area 5 Mobility Data

Elementary Schools
Secondary Schools
External Population Trends Data

Additional Data