Wicomico County Public Schools | EFMP FY2025 WCPS remains concerned about the amount of single-family and multi-family activity within the Delmar area due to the fact that we are unable to track growth data for the state of Delaware. Subjective observation and unofficial reports indicate additional residential growth is continuing. This will exacerbate the current overcrowded conditions at Delmar Elementary and the site has very little room for expansion. The adopted 2017 Wicomico County Comprehensive Plan projects the County population could reach 119,200 people by 2030. Growth is anticipated for our community and the implicationof theseprojections toour school systemmay be significant. Basedupon recent development trends as well as population and household estimates and projects, by 2030 it is anticipated that approximately 49% of the County population will reside within one of the eight incorporated areas. In 2010, roughly 43,000 persons or 43% of the total County population resided in an incorporated area. In the absence of growthmanagement, schools will continue to struggle with increases in enrollments and/or student population shifts in student attendance areas. Current growth trends will require WCPS to shift service needs for potential additional households in more outlying areas (see 4.2 Wicomico County Map: Development Pattern). With schools operating at or over capacity we will likely have to play catch-up to the subdivision development depending on where it continues to expand. Significant future growth will require a combination of additions to existing facilities as well as new or replacement schools. This would require a commitment and investment of resources at both the local and state levels. Within Wicomico County and more specifically the City of Salisbury there appears to be a trend within metro core neighborhoods where the existing detached homes are becoming rental dwellings instead of single family owned. The Salisbury Municipal Code has a dedicated Chapter 15.26, Rental of Residential Premises to address the increased number of rental properties and created a department to address the need to register, license and oversee these rental properties. The increase of rental properties appears to be related to a few things, including the expansion of Salisbury University and the need for additional student housing and the previously inflated real estate market and the need for affordable housing. We continue to see student populations shift within our inner city school boundaries and there may be a correlation to this and the increase in rental homes. COMMUNITY PLANNING The state is actively encouraging Smart Growth through community planning and public school construction. Smaller schools, walking or biking to school, co-use of schools and land banking procedures are a few of the priorities of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) related to smart growth. WCPS continues to coordinate and communicate with our local municipalities regarding our school planning efforts. WCPS has already 112
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