Downing Ridge and Parkside School District Change

Our first milestone is $5,000 by mid-January

In 2012 a petition was submitted to switch the Downing Ridge and Parkside neighborhoods from the Coatesville School District to the Downingtown School District. It argued that because of the distance from the neighborhoods to the schools, it disadvantaged the school-age residents and prohibited them from getting an adequate education that fulfills the state mandate.

While there will be eventual benefits to residents such as a potential change in property values and the amount of taxes owed, the main focus is the students of the district and making sure the distance of the schools isn't a hindrance to education, access to special needs services, the ability to participate in after school activities, and other known and unforeseen detriments of the location.

In the summer of 2023, the Deputy Secretary of Education of Pennsylvania decided on the case and agreed that the petition had educational merit. The school districts (both Downingtown and Coatesville) have appealed that decision and now Downing Ridge/Parkside residents have to make their case.

Up until now, the legal fees have been covered by a private individual (who no longer lives in Downing Ridge) and HOA funds received from a pipeline company years ago. To ensure continued funding and the sustained ability to see this case through, we are reaching out to affected residents of Downing Ridge and Parkside to contribute towards legal fees.

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with the law firm directly please reach out!

Sincerely,

Sean Deminski