Winchester Opts Out of School Choice

Each year the school committees in Massachusetts consider whether their district will participate in the school choice program during the upcoming school year.

suggested, and the agreed, as they voted unanimously to opt-out of the program because of space limitations due to the enrollment growth.

All school districts would presume to be participants unless the local school committee specifically voted not to opt-in.

According to McAlduff, the school choice program allows students who live outside of Winchester to attend Winchester public schools.

“Last year we voted against it because of the lack of seats and space,” McAlduff said. “Our enrollment has increased 30 percent of the last number of years and that trend is expected to continue in the future.”

School Committee member, Sarah Swiger agreed, saying that this year is not the ideal year to opt in to school choice.

“We have had a rapid growth of kids the last 10 years,” Swiger said. “We asked the voters for an override for a new Vinson-Owen and we’re going to be adding a significant number of seats to the population.

“We’ve also made a commitment to do redistricting. Of all the times that it’s possible, it’s not possible for us to accept school choice this year. At this part in time we’re going through a significant transition in our schools for the next three years.”

For students that would transfer into Winchester, the tuition the town could charge would be capped at a state-mandated level.