Upper school enrollment may rise in Wellesley
Enrollment at Wellesley’s middle and high schools is expected to increase in the coming years, according to projections presented Tuesday night to the School Committee.
As of Oct. 1, the enrollment for the elementary school peaked at 2,409 students, said school business manager Ruth Quinn Berdell.
Elementary enrollment will decline in the upcoming school year and is projected to drop to 1,381 students in fiscal year 2019. The number is based on a 2.9 percent decline in the birth rate.
The middle school enrollment for this year is 1,130 students and is projected to peak at about 1,250 students in 2012.
The high school enrollment is at 1,211 students this year and may peak to just over 1,500 students in 2016.
Based on enrollment numbers, Berdell outlined possible space needs at each level, which she said are conservative estimates.
Since the elementary school population will not increase, the existing modular classrooms will be utilized. Redistricting of the elementary schools may be considered, but Berdell said there is no recommendation yet.
The middle school space has been under review with the School Committee. A school building committee is going to be established to conduct a study about the space issue at the middle school, where renovations were completed in in 2007.
The high school construction is underway, and this year five new classes were made from the lecture hall.
The space at all grade levels will be monitored and population will continue to be analyzed, said Burdell.
Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com
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