Eden Prairie has released a new boundary map that shows where more than 1,000 elementary school students will change schools next fall, largely to better integrate the district.

It follows the school board's 4-3 vote last month to approve the transition, a decision preceded by months of vocal opposition from parents.

Leaders of the southwest suburban district say moving grades five and six from an intermediate school into K-4 schools and redrawing boundary lines will balance uneven capacity in schools and reduce a 33 percent gap among elementary schools in the number of low-income students. "The schools are well-integrated now," Superintendent Melissa Krull said on Tuesday.

The map reduces the low-income student disparity between Forest Hills and the more affluent Cedar Ridge to about 8 percent. District leaders initially sought to narrow the gap to 2 percent. Krull said updated enrollment data from last year shifted numbers and "the closest we could get was 8 percent, which is just great."

The plan has been strongly opposed by hundreds of Eden Prairie parents. Many say they don't disagree with integration but fear the loss of neighborhood K-4 schools. Others say they predict that the district, home to 9,700 students, will see more families leave in opposition to the changes.

The newly released map reflects relatively small changes, based on public input, from a proposed map released in October.

The changes mean 1,065 students will move schools. This month officials will determine whether there is room in schools to allow fourth- and fifth-graders the option to stay in their current school next fall.

KELLY SMITH

MAP IS ONLINE: To see a map with the changes, go to www.startribune.com/west.