Dear Woodbury Community,
As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping you informed, we would like to share an important update. During the regularly scheduled IUSD Board of Education Meeting on December 9, the Board voted to approve the staff-proposed high school boundary adjustment for the Woodbury Community, following a thorough review of enrollment data, staff recommendations, Community Forum input, responses from two community surveys, the Fall Facilities Study Session, and correspondence from families in both the Woodbury and Irvine High School communities.
Background
For more than a decade, Irvine has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, particularly in the Great Park Neighborhoods, and IUSD has continued to engage in long-term school and facilities planning to meet the needs of our students and families. While elementary and middle schools in this area can accommodate current and future enrollment, Portola High School is the only high school assigned to these neighborhoods and is rapidly exceeding capacity. Without adjustments, Portola would surpass 3,600 students by 2030, making it one of the most populated high schools in Orange County on a footprint designed for far fewer students.
To maintain balanced enrollment and support student well-being, safety, and access to academic, athletic, arts and other opportunities, Board Policy establishes a target high school size of 2,200 students, with a peak of 3,200 students. The approved adjustment reassigns the Woodbury Community from Portola High School to Irvine High School (their originally assigned school) beginning with the 2028-29 school year.
Who the Adjustment Applies To
- Students currently in 6th grade and below residing in the Woodbury Community, regardless of current school (including those attending on School Choice).
Who the Adjustment Does Not Apply To
- Students currently attending Portola High School or Jeffrey Trail Middle School in grades 7–12
- Students living outside the Woodbury Community
- No changes are proposed for elementary or middle school boundaries
Sibling Rule
To support families, younger siblings of students concurrently enrolled at Portola High School at the start of the 2028-29 school year may apply through the School Choice process (January 2028) to attend Portola as well. For more information about the Sibling Rule, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Boundary Adjustment webpage. Information about School Choice can be found on the District’s Intradistrict Transfer/School Choice webpage.
The Board of Education and IUSD staff understand that boundary adjustments represent a transition for families, and we are committed to working with you to support your children. This Boundary Adjustment, beginning in the 2028-29 school year, will help balance high school enrollment and maintain strong educational experiences for all of our students.
If you have questions after reviewing this message and the information on the Boundary Adjustment webpage, please contact info@iusd.org or call 949-936-5000, and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.
Sincerely,
Irvine Unified School District