Elementary Enrollment and Class Sizes
K-2 (Avg. Class Size)
3-5 (Avg. Class Size)
Total (Avg. Class Size)
Change from Prior Year
Elementary Enrollment
Year
2022-23
4,998
(43)
18.8
20.0
19.4
2023-24
4,926
(72)
18.1
20.3
19.2
2024-25
4,809
(117)
17.9
19.6
18.8
2025-26
4,746
(63)
18.6
19.8
19.2
2026-27*
4,644
(102)
19.1
19.6
19.4
*Projected The Wednesday Schedule Change: A State Compliance Need
Newton Public Schools was cited by the state for how lunch is scheduled on Wednesday early- release days. Going forward, NPS must provide a dedicated lunch block on Wednesdays; lunch, recess, and transitions do not count toward learning time. When a dedicated lunch block is incorporated into the existing Wednesday schedule, the district falls short of the state requirement of 900 hours of structured learning time annually for grades 1–5. To address this requirement, the FY27 budget includes a 15-minute extension of the student day on Wednesdays, an option available within our existing collective bargaining agreement (Unit A CBA: Time and Learning Agreement, p. 93). The total cost of this increase is $115,000, with $46,000 attributed to the Elementary Education responsibility center and $69,000 to Student Services. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support The Department of Secondary and Elementary Education defines MTSS as a "framework designed to meet the needs of all students by ensuring that schools optimize data-driven decision-making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based supports and strategies with increasing intensity to sustain student growth" (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Blueprint, DESE). Over the past two years, we have made shifts in scheduling, staffing, and resources to ensure effective multi-tiered systems of support critical for ensuring all students receive the challenging and supportive learning experiences necessary to thrive. The FY27 budget maintains the resources added in FY26 to support elementary MTSS, with FTE adjustments driven solely by enrollment. Needs-based adjustments continue to direct additional literacy and math specialist resources to the schools where student needs are greatest. For FY27, six schools are currently slated to receive allocations above their
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