Despite recent reports predicting declining enrollment, the Harvard Public Schools will start the 2015–16 school year with more students this fall than last fall. Already we have welcomed 59 new students to the district over the summer. Our enrollment stands at 1,149 compared to 1,144 students last year. We expect that the enrollment number of 1,149 will continue to increase throughout August and before our September 2 start date of school. So how do we explain this departure from the predictions? Real estate sales have increased, with a number of families without children selling to new families with children.
The increase in population does not come from School Choice and Devens, as both of those numbers are similar to last year: 65 and 80, respectively. The increase also does not reflect any new housing in Devens, as the construction crews have not yet broken ground. We expect in the next year or two to see the population of students living in Devens to increase to 160. We are anticipating the increase and planning for the smooth inclusion of these students across the grade levels.
The grade levels experiencing the greatest summer increase include kindergarten with 12 new students, second grade with 11 new students, and sixth grade with seven new students. Despite these larger student numbers, we maintain low class-size averages at 15, 19, and 20, respectively. The School Committee remains committed, as much as possible, to the recommended class sizes outlined in its policy: kindergarten, 15 to 18 students; grades 1 to 3, 17 to 20; grades 4 to 5, 18 to 22; grades 6 to 8, 20 to 22; grades 9 to 12, 20 to 24.
The change in enrollment is welcome news. With the increase in home sales and the projected building project in Devens, we should be at optimal capacity for at least the next few years.
Linda Dwight is superintendent of the Harvard Public Schools.
