Fresno Unified School District plans to spend millions of dollars converting four schools into fifth- through eighth-grade middle-school campuses over the next 15 years. While experts disagree over how student achievement is affected by expanding middle schools, the benefit for Fresno Unified is clear: The move will help the district compete with charter schools by offering families more options, officials say. Under the change, spelled out in the district master plan adopted in April, Sequoia and Ahwahnee middle schools and Anthony and Greenberg elementary schools will become four-year middle schools. About a dozen Fresno Unified middle schools wont be affected.

This includes most two-year middle schools, as well as Wawona Middle School, which has sixth- through eighth-graders, and Baird Middle School, with students in grades five through eight. Details, including timing of the moves, have yet to be spelled out. One goal for the district is to help balance enrollments. Some existing middle schools have room for more students, while some elementary schools are crowded.

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