Mansfield School Enrollment Down; School Population Nearing 3,900

MANSFIELD, MA — Fewer students are walking the halls of schools in Mansfield than last year, according to Superintendent Teresa Murphy.

Murphy told the school committee that the school district has 3,908 students enrolled to start the school year. That’s 50 fewer students than the same time last year.

Murphy noted that class sizes in kindergarten are around 20 to 21 students thanks to the addition of a class. First grade classes are about 21 to 22 students while second grade classrooms have 22 to 23 students. Fourth grade classrooms are between 22 and 25 students and that’s where the district has seen large growth. Murphy told the committee that 21 fourth grade students, including five in the week leading up to school have joined the school district.

“(The fourth grade numbers) are a little higher than we would like but it’s definitely unavoidable,” Murphy said.

Fifth grade classes are around 24 students each.

The district is also dealing with move-ins. Murphy said that earlier in the day, three new families walked into the school officials at the same time to enroll their kids.

“We’re glad to have students...but just making sure that we are prepared for them,” she said.

The enrollment drop is half of what was expected. Projections called for a decrease of 100 students for the 2018-19 school year.

Image Credit: Dan Libon/Patch