This analysis examines the potential impact mitigations and benefits to schools in Angwin as a result of the Angwin Ecovillage Project. The analysis consists of five components:
- An inventory of existing public and private schools
- A capacity assessment of existing public and private schools
- Student generation estimates based on the average and maximum housing that would occur under the project
- Estimates on revenue that would be generated for the Howell Mountain School as a result of state-mandated developer fees and an increase in property tax values
- Estimates on Facilities Impact Fees necessary to mitigate potential new St. Helena high school students to be generated from the project
Existing Setting
There is a combination of public and private schools in the Town of Angwin and nearby St. Helena. Current enrollment and existing capacity at the schools likely to be affected by the Ecovillage Project are identified below.
- Howell Mountain Elementary School – Public
- Current Enrollment: 117 Students
- Existing Capacity: 130 Students
- St. Helena High School - Public
- Current Enrollment: 518 Students
- Existing Capacity: At capacity
- Pacific Union College (PUC) Elem. School - Private
- Current Enrollment: 143 Students
- Existing Capacity: 280 Students
- Foothills Adventist Elementary School - Private
- Current Enrollment: 61 students
- Existing Capacity: 180 students
- Pacific Union College Preparatory School - Private
- Current Enrollment: 68 students
- Existing Capacity: 225 students
Student Generation Estimates
Quantitative student generation estimates were developed as part of the Schools Analysis to assess the potential effects on enrollment, capacity, and financing. Estimates were developed for both public and private schools.
Public Schools
Based on historical statistics, it is possible to predict whether residents of the Ecovillage would choose to send their children to private or public school. Therefore, two sets of generation estimates were developed for the public schools analysis. The “Public Low End” assumed that pupil generation rates from market rate units in the Ecovillage would match the existing low student generation rates in Angwin today, with some additional pupil generation from the affordable housing units. The “Public High End” assumed that student generation rate from the Ecovillage would be greater than that occurring in Angwin today, but still less than the rates for the Napa Valley Unified School District or the State.
The Estimates For Public School Enrollment Are As Follows:
- Public Low End – 87 students at the K-8 Level and 48 high school students.
- Public High End – 138 students at the K-8 level and 59 high school students.
While there is no definitive means of calculating the actual number of new students that would enroll at Howell Mountain School as a result of the project, it is likely that the total would fall between the low and high ends of the range (87 and 138 students), and average about 113 students.
St. Helena High School would receive 48 students under the low end scenario and 59 students under the high end scenario, an average predicted student increase of 54 students. The high school is currently at capacity, so it would need to add up to 3 modular classrooms to accommodate these additional students, depending on the actual increase in enrollment.
Private Schools
Low and high end scenarios were not generated for private schools. The assumption built into the analysis was that families with the financial means that have historically chosen to do so would opt to send their children to private school.
The estimates for private school enrollment are 39 students at the K-8 level and 19 high school students.
Private schools in the Angwin area already have additional capacity for 235 students at the K-8 level and 125 students at the 9-12 level. Students generated by the Ecovillage Project could therefore be adequately accommodated by existing private schools.
Financing
- Capital Payments
The project is expected to generate approximately $2.1 million for the Howell Mountain School District through developer fees.
Assuming that five new modular classrooms would be needed at Howell Mountain School, with a cost of about $100,000 each, the total capital cost to the District would be $500,000, leaving a capital surplus of over $1.6 million. This probably represents an underestimate since commercial development in the project would also pay fees.
- Operational Funding
The total property tax revenue likely to be generated as a result of the project would be between approximately $145 million and $235 million. Based on a State-established allocation factor (Assembly Bill 8 Factor), the Howell Mountain School District would receive approximately $575,761 to $936,259 per year for operational costs.
- Break Even Point
Given current revenues of $13,494 per student, Howell Mountain School District would experience full financial mitigation of new student impacts on the Ecovillage Project if the project generated 42 students at the low end ($566,748 / $13,494) = 42) and 72 students at the high end ($971,568 / $13,494 = 72).
Ecoliteracy
One of the more exciting features of the Ecovillage community is the potential to introduce an ecologically-based curriculum into both the private elementary (PUC Elementary) and high school (PUC Prep) in Angwin. These are both significant feeder schools for Pacific Union College and share usage of many college facilities. The ability to foster among children a deep connection to the natural world by taking a short walk to the neighborhood farm or adjoining forest is a special gift. At St. Helena High School, a small on-site organic farming operation is already underway and integrated into the learning experience there.