Secondary Education The FY27 budget adjusts staffing patterns at the middle and high school levels in response to enrollment shifts, while prioritizing stability and the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Building on evidence from the elementary model, this proposal emphasizes differentiated math support and the consistency required for educational routines to take root. Overall middle school enrollment is projected to increase by 35 students. Significant growth is expected at Bigelow (+56 students), primarily due to a large incoming 6th-grade class, while Day is projected to increase by 16 students. Enrollment declines are projected at Brown (-8) and Oak Hill (-29). High school enrollment is projected to decline by 50 students overall, with Newton North decreasing by 76 and Newton South increasing by 26. The budget utilizes the Educational Stabilization Account at the high school level to ensure class access in math, science, and engineering, though funding limitations prevent parallel reductions in humanities class sizes. Middle Schools In FY27, projected enrollment at Bigelow due to the recently adjusted feeder pattern results in the need for two additional team teachers (or an increase of half a team, as expected when the adjustment to feeder patterns was implemented). Staffing at Brown, Day, and Oak Hill remains unchanged based on projected average team sizes. It should also be noted that while Brown’s class size has not increased, the rising 7th grade class that had previously been identified as needing additional support continues to have a higher proportion of students on IEPs than other grades. This is a complexity increase that is not accounted for within the current district allocation. No additional support has been provided to these students post COVID to address prior learning loss. This staffing maintains similar average team sizes at all four middle schools as this school year. The largest average projected team sizes for next year are at Brown (grade 7) and Day (grades 6 and 7) with 93 students per team, and the smallest is at Bigelow in grade 7 with 72 students per team. The overall projected middle school team size for next year is 86 students, which is one student less than the current year. Detailed information about middle school enrollment and team sizes by school is provided in the table below.
Team Teachers for Middle School Core Subjects
Bigelow
Brown
Day
Oak Hill Total Middle Schools
FY23 Enrollment
445
750
920
657
2,772
FY24 Enrollment
425
732
868
648
2,673
FY25 Enrollment
448
713
860
649
2,670
FY26 Enrollment
462
698
830
654
2,644
FY27 Enrollment (Projected)
518
690
846
625
2,679
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