Wellesley Says No To School Choice

WELLESLEY, MA — The Wellesley Public Schools will continue to not allow students from outside the district to attend their schools.

The school committee voted at their May 8 meeting to opt out of the School Choice program, which allows students to attend schools outside their home district which have opted into the program. The committee voted to not join, citing peak enrollment at the high school, an increase in staffing at the middle and high schools, and space concerns.

"This is the wrong time to be doing this with the various issues we're trying to navigate," Superintendent David Lussier said.

School districts are required to hold a hearing and vote each year on the program. Failure to do so results in the district automatically opting in.

School Choice is more common in western Massachusetts and Cape Cod, where schools are dealing with declining enrollment.

Image via Shutterstock