AACPS Redistricting Update Gives Crofton Parents Say In This Year's School Placement

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A new Anne Arundel County Public Schools redistricting update puts a major decision in parents’ hands: where their children will attend class this year.

Redistricting plans approved last November reassigned Crofton-area students to the Arundel Middle and Arundel High schools for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Those plans, however, were paused in June after a judge issued a stay through September.

A Thursday update from the AACPS now indicates that parents must choose between either keeping their students in the Crofton feeder schools or staying with the Arundel transition.

What's Required From Parents?

Parents with students in grades 6 through 11 are required to file their decision through a special portal that the school district will make available in the coming days.

Final decisions for the 2026-2027 school year are due by July 30. Officials said transportation will be provided for families selecting the Arundel feeder schools.

Related: Crofton Redistricting Plans Halted After Judge Issued Ruling

Rising 12th-grade students who already entered the legacy portal and indicated they want to remain at Crofton High School for the 2026-27 school year do not need to take further action.

"A great deal of work has been done since November to reassign and welcome students to their new schools," reads the joint release from AACPS Superintendent Mark Bedell and Board of Education President Gloria Dent.

"While the Board and Anne Arundel County Public Schools will, of course, abide by any court order, we understand that many families have already planned on attending their new schools under the Board’s plan."

Staffing adjustments between the two school clusters are expected to take place after student selections are finalized.

What About The Legal Challenge?

Bedell and Dent said no other parts of the redistricting effort were impacted by the legal challenges, noting the June ruling only applies to students in the Nantucket Elementary School area and those reassigned to the Arundel feeder schools.

"The ruling did not address the merits of the Board-approved plan being challenged," Bedell and Dent wrote.

"Future decisions regarding enrollment will be made after the court case concludes, although families selecting Arundel feeder schools under this process will be permitted to continue enrollment per their selection."

The court case was filed by the One Crofton nonprofit, launched by local families following the Anne Arundel County Public Schools' redistricting approval in 2025. The group argues the redistricting plan was approved despite "mistakes of fact and law and a lack of transparency."

A court hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 14.