made the hoped-for changes within the humanities courses to ensure parallel class sizes in the current city allocation or the current school proposal due to the funding limitations.
Middle Schools
In FY26, projected enrollment at Bigelow due to the recently adjusted feeder pattern results in the need for two additional team teachers (as expected when the adjustment to feeder patterns was implemented). Enrollment at Brown, Day, and Oak Hill is projected to decline; staffing at Brown and Day is reduced by 2 core teacher FTE at each school in response, while staffing at Oak Hill remains unchanged based on projected average team sizes. It should also be noted that while Brown’s class size is not increase d, the incoming 6th grade class has 20 more IEPs within the building than did the prior grade. This is a complexity increase that is not accounted for within the current district allocation.
High Schools
The total enrollment at the high schools is projected to decrease by 31 students compared to this year. Newton South is projected to have an increase of 15 students, while Newton North is projected to decrease by 46 students. Significant additional FTE resources were added to both high schools from the Educational Stabilization Account to restore reductions made over the past several budget cycles, and to ensure student access to math, science, and engineering core and elective courses. The distribution of these increases in FTE is made in proportion to the size of the schools, their changes in enrollment, and the unmet demand for courses in key academic areas at each school. High class sizes within the Humanities classes, which we had hoped to address in this budget, are not reduced by this budget. The specific allocation of these FTEs by the high school department will be driven by FY26 student course enrollments and will be finalized by the leadership team of each high school later this spring. The FY26 budget does, however, continue to provide support for the wide variety of offerings that engage all learners and help them thrive and grow at the high school level. Current programmatic efforts to support all learners in a wide variety of activities, programs, courses, and interventions will continue in many areas. Our offerings will continue to include after-school programs, peer tutoring, academic support labs, athletics, legacy scholar programs, and other regular education supports and interventions.
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