The third scenario is exactly the same one that many of us imagined 7-8 years ago, and is still the best choice.  This balances the number of students between the three schools, and preserves the middle school.  There are subgroups of grades 5-6 and 7-8 within the school, so these age groups have some separation.   Excess rooms and wings of buildings can be rented out or locked up for additional savings.   Evan, the Middle School is using buildings that were constructed in the 1940s through the 1990s.  The oldest building is rented to Island Dance, and was built in 1935.