At the most recent Hudson School Board meeting, the School Board was briefed on an enrollment study recently completed.
It was explained by Superintendent Dan Moulis, that during his first year with the District they had a projected enrollment study done by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and that he thinks it’s good to have it updated every couple of years, so it’s not out of date.
“I had them do a refresh of that report,” Moulis said.
One of the highlights from the report Moulis pointed to is enrollment for high school for 2028-2029.
Moulis explained that originally that enrollment was projected to be 850 students, and it is now at 833 students.
“That is a little bit of a difference,” Moulis said about the change in projections.
Moulis explained that it is based on information they get like birth rates for the town of Hudson, building permits, along with students currently in the school system.
“Birth data informs Kindergarten enrollment. Each fall, NESDEC secures birth data from State sources, providing a snapshot in time as to actual and provisional births as reported by the State, and then uses this birth data to predict Kindergarten enrollments,” the summary of the report read. “We only use Fall birth data to assure consistency in reporting from year to year. Estimated births, which are an average of the previous five years of birth data, are based on this same snapshot. NESDEC acknowledges the variability of the provisional and the estimated birth data, and notes that the projected Kindergarten enrollments may serve as a guide to future planning.”
As part of the summary it was also explained that “births decreased by 11 from a previous ten-year average of 236 to a projected average of 225. In most districts, Grades 1-8 are very stable in enrollments. However, there have been increases in four of the eight most recent years, leading to a net increase averaging four students per year.”
“Over the next three years, Grades K-1 enrollments are projected to decrease by 15 students, Grades 2-5 enrollments are projected to decrease by 29 students, Grades 6-8 enrollments are projected to decrease by 25 students, and Grades 9-12 enrollments are projected to decrease by 71 students, as students move through the grades,” the summary read.
School Board member Ethan Beals asked if the Board of Selectmen are aware of the report, and the refresh that they did on the enrollment study.
Board of Selectmen Liaison Heidi Jakoby said she thinks that it should be included as part of their master plan.
Moulis explained that he thinks the report should be updated every couple of years.
“It’s a data point I would like to provide this information every couple of years for the board,” Moulis said.
The next School Board meeting is slated to take place on Jan. 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Hills Memorial Library.
