This total proposed budget presents an increase of 5.75% over the FY26 budget and shown in the table below. FY27 Budget FY26 FY27 SC Approved Budget Increase from FY26
Percentage Increase
City’s Approved Funding and one time funding added to our Base Budget
$292,963,623+ $4,506,000 = $297,469,623
$314,574,126
$17,104,503 5.75%
Enrollment In total, including the district’s integrated preschool and out of district placements, we expect to serve approximately 11,538 students in FY27. Newton’s in-district K-12 projections for FY27 indicate a decline in enrollment from this year of 117 students to 11,218 (or a decline of -1.0% from this year). This decline is not consistent across levels. Elementary schools are projected to decline by -2.1% (-102 students), middle schools are projected to increase by +1.3% (+35 students), and high schools are projected to decrease by -1.3% (-50 students). The current five-year enrollment projections through FY31 show overall district enrollment declines for the first three years and then stabilizes around 11,150 students in the last two years. As in prior years, the current five-year enrollment projections include students projected to enroll from permitted residential developments. This is the eighth consecutive year of enrollment declines in Newton, with a decline of - 10% from 2019-20 (pre-COVID). Statewide, Massachusetts has experienced a -5% enrollment decline from eight years ago. This trend is expected to continue; the US Department of Education is projecting a nationwide enrollment decline of -5.5% from 2022-2031, and a decline of -7.2% in Massachusetts over the same period (Enrollment Analysis Report, page 1). Detailed enrollment information is found in the Enrollment Analysis Report. Given the recent smaller class sizes at the elementary level and the continued projected enrollment decline, the budget for elementary staffing is reduced in a commensurate fashion. In addition, this budget includes an additional 2.0 FTE team teachers at Bigelow related to overall projected enrollment and student need. Although overall enrollment decline is projected at the high school level, the budget in recent years has required larger class sizes at the high schools, which are maintained in this year’s budget. The table below shows FY27 projected staffing changes due to enrollment Level FTE Change Elementary -7.0 Middle School +2
Net Enrollment Changes
5.0
-11-
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