Barbara L. MacLennanTracy DingessFrank LaFone

West Virginia University

Using GIS in School Planning:Using GIS in School Planning:

Mid-Appalachia Comparison Mid-Appalachia Comparison

Some Questions:• WV is the least diverse U.S. state?

True/False

• WV has a non-English Speaking population? True/False

• WV has an immigration history? True/False

• WV has Global Companies/Industry?True/False

GIS and School Planning

• Increased use for school planning:• Redistricting, teacher ratio, funding, • Planning community resources and services• Also used for instruction in schools

• ESRI is a large influence: GIS for School Sites• Maptician for school planning

• Used most often in large urban school districts • Indianapolis, Fairfax, NYC• 44 + percent of U.S. ESL students live in rural communities (2002) • Cost and expertise are an issue in rural areas

RURAL ESL Data Collection

• Counties give population different names:-ESL English as a Second Language-ELL English Language Learners-LEP Low English Proficiency-SOL Students of Other Language

• ESL isn’t only low-skill migrant workers• International Students aren’t all ESL students• Most data is state level data• NCELA –data becomes coarser up ladder • Most planning is done at county level

Hypothesis

States around WV have seen large k-12 ESL growth. WV has also had a growth in ESL population. Therefore ESL growth would be expected on border counties.

WV Total ESL Population

WV Percentage of ESL Students

What Next?

• Map the counties surrounding WV• Include higher education/vo-tech • Possible to predict future growth?• Why the drop off for WV? • Why the interior growth areas?

– Economic growth in industries

Questions?

Barbara MacLennan 304-685-2892

bmaclenn@mix.wvu.edu