Merged McT/ Merriam
-349 students
-16
Highest organizational disruption: Two historical communities are dissolved and formally replaced by one new school entity. Experiences a major reduction in sections (-16 sections compared to the original combined total). Note that staff reductions cross all schools based on contractual obligations.
826 (37 total sections)
477 (21 total sections)
Option 5, v2: Hybrid Grade-Band Model (5 Schools)
This option fundamentally alters the operational model in Acton, adopting a hybrid approach where Blanchard (Boxborough) remains K–6 to preserve community continuity. The other five schools in Acton are reorganized into four grade-banded schools (two K–3 and two 4–6) across the two large buildings (Boardwalk and PDB). Key Clarification for Option 5, v2: Although the elementary education structure is disrupted by introducing a compulsory transition at Grade 4 (from Lower School to Upper School), this system keeps the students on the same physical campus (Boardwalk or PDB) for their entire K–6 span. The disruption is driven by the formal change in school identity, administration, faculty, and peer cohort, but preserves cross-grade benefits like "book buddies" or older student role models. ● Displacement: In this model, the existing K-6 structures of all five Acton elementary schools are eliminated. Therefore, the Conant, Merriam, McCarthy-Towne, Douglas, and Gates communities are all displaced , as they are reconstituted into new K-3 Lower Schools and 4-6 Upper Schools on the Parker Damon and Boardwalk campuses. ● Disruption: This option has the widest breadth of disruption , as it fundamentally alters the elementary school experience for nearly every student and family in Acton by creating new grade configurations and school structures. The Blanchard community in Boxborough is the only school not subject to the grade-banding change and thus experiences the least disruption. ● Synthesis: This option distributes disruption across the entire district (with the exception of Blanchard) rather than concentrating it on specific schools. It represents a fundamental change to the elementary educational model for the town of Acton.
School/Campus (Grade Band)
FY26 Enrollment (Sections)
FY27 Projected
Enrollment Change
Section Change
Potential Grade-Level Disruption
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