We The Residents Of The Iredell Statesville School District

We, the residents as being homeowners and parents of children attending Lake Norman School District adamently oppose the redrawing of school boundry lines that would move our children to Troutman or Statesville schools. We are looking out for the best interest of our children and their education. The schools that our children would be moved to are not near the same quality as the schools that they currently attend. Evidence of this fact is proven on the school report cards. Lakeshore Elementary is a School of Distinction with 80-90% of students at grade level compared to Troutman Elementary which is a school of No Recognition. Lakeshore Middle is an Honor School of Excellence with at least 90% of students performing at grade level compared to Troutman Middle School which is a School of Progress with only 60-80% at grade level. Only 45% of seniors at South Iredell High School participate in taking the SATs which shows that this is not a college prep high school. Lake Norman High School has an 89% participation rate for taking SATs and their scores are higher than those at South Iredell,  1069 vs. 1019 respectively (the average of the combined verbal and math scores). The school board argues that the Troutman schools scores are above the state average; this is not the issue here. The issue is that they are below the level of the Lake Norman schools that our children are currently attending. 
In addition, a study by Jud and Watts (1981) studied the effects of school quality on house values. Jud and Watts found that the quality (as measured by the average grade point) of school is an important determinant of house values. They found that a one grade point increase in average student achievement test result in a 5.2% to  6.2% increase in the value of an average house. Therefore, the redistricting proposed will negatively impact the value of our property and create an inability to sell our homes. We support the purchase of modular classrooms to be placed at Lakeshore Elementary, Lakeshore Middle, Brawley Middle, Woodland Heights, Lake Norman Elementary, and/or Lake Norman High School to supply seats for future growth. We do not want to be redistricted.
Title, Target, and schools ammended Oct. 28th, 2008