[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6317651,"mediaKeyId","2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c","parentId",2370118,"title","District consultants present revised elementary plan and two middle-school zoning options","audioSeconds",3358,"startMs",6378000,"endMs",9736000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c&start=6378&end=9736","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c/thumbnail_6378000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317651/Massachusetts/District-consultants-present-revised-elementary-plan-and-two-middle-school-zoning-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317651-53f6e9e9215d018ecc69b3c57a1adc59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103113&Signature=H-0P7zKn0zqTHwLk5hRfnNyEoHep9eavgyY1oCMqv9wYRPACFvzbwBVKccUEuOVnjQhYANcjNdQXTXEY7wcGFIcct40jJSJQWiejWjCA91C-S72JXar8wQrBuZyzFw01XW-Nz0bE9xQwmgYDZ-myhAxPbOjp28-qNhFeux1M2YjO~fjIc2CXye2TSVTiZqqvZGJSXoLMmkbQiDA-skAVGwEFGHIEugxzoBEECLHzeDeBLmOKxwRBrrhr3OpHm1AU6vehhkX7HH7ziWtNXcjKSv6gC8P0BMzygzebdtC1HkWk~VIfRWs7SO-xT5v6wAew3Kg~ocMQsxVCJZHnHAjVdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Andover Public Schools, MA","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","Dillinger Research and Applied Data, the district’s redistricting consultant, presented a revised elementary scenario and two initial middle‑school zoning options to the Andover School Committee on Thursday as part of the district’s redistricting process.

Consultant Nick (Dillinger Research) said the team released an earlier “scenario 4” on Jan. 16, collected public feedback through an interactive mapping tool and refined the plan into “scenario 5.” Scenario 5 preserves Sanborn’s current residential boundary (it was not necessary to expand into populated neighborhoods), expands West Elementary to include the eastern side of Route 93 (High Plains area) and adjusts Bancroft and South boundaries in modest ways. The consultant said the revisions reduce the number of students who would be reassigned compared with earlier options.

The consultants also presented two initial middle‑school zoning proposals. Middle‑school scenario 1 keeps elementary-school cohorts intact (for example, most students from a single elementary would proceed to the same middle school) but produces an uneven distribution of utilization: one middle school (Doherty) could approach high utilization while others would be under capacity. Middle‑school scenario 2 splits some elementary cohorts across middle schools so that the three middle schools are more evenly balanced (roughly 68%–77% utilization across the three buildings in the draft model).

Committee members raised several recurring concerns: the downtown Andover neighborhood has dense housing and was repeatedly identified by residents as sensitive to rezoning; parents asked whether students assigned to a different middle school would still be able to walk safely and whether the district had data on how many students currently walk versus ride buses. Consultants and staff said bus-ridership numbers can be provided easily but precise door‑to‑door walk/drop-off patterns are harder to track and are often anecdotal.

Members asked for an additional elementary scenario variant that would keep a downtown pocket with Bancroft rather than assigning it to West; the consultant agreed to model that as “scenario 6” to show how the change would affect middle‑school utilization. Staff and consultants also said they will continue to refine maps and data for public meetings: a virtual community session on Feb. 13 will review middle‑school scenarios, the Redistricting Advisory Committee will meet Feb. 25, and the district plans an in-person implementation-focused session March 8. The School Committee expects to consider final recommendations at its March 20 meeting.

Consultants stressed that any final rezoning would be accompanied by discussions about reallocating resources, including special-education and other support services, to account for changes in student composition at affected schools.

No vote was taken on map scenarios at Thursday’s meeting; consultants said they will post interactive maps and accept public input in the coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Andover School Committee 02-06-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dillinger Research presented a refined elementary scenario and two initial middle‑school zoning options. The consultants recommended one middle‑school model that balances enrollments across the three middle schools; committee members asked for another elementary variant and for more public input before a March decision.","taxTitle","Andover Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",67720,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317655,"Andover High School presents class-size and enrollment analysis to committee",1949,4430000,6379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c&start=4430&end=6379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c/thumbnail_4430000.jpg","/articles/6317655/Massachusetts/Andover-High-School-presents-class-size-and-enrollment-analysis-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317655-a1ce6169a2ce0cd8e251adfb2d609a21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103113&Signature=SreVL7aFZ-dWRot9Jhk8jIn-JZvjpCF1dl6ri6zYI3wIM5QF05vuUh2SIETfweLgU3-eruDE6i3CdfLvocfqea4S66-vOE8M9WST8Q8KlzskblgZgKlda9d~gHkg5FLEGHEKjYfkHi5lC~AnUce70eIrnf-qLBR3y01kf1aYUYTp9kUwbfJUZIoCNn3Q85f8UX1qxqmap47n-p8xNjB-wV~2hN4Hn2aK4EMweU1rIpJ0hgJ8AKXcVxBorqQA-8Tj1c0z7kPOcDnt~0~FhZRohvRubNuOGdtyK5-Q1pQB-f0Zi5lNd74qkae0j~8muN08Ff5oMFUYD7CUpbPJUnYDvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andover High School staff presented a detailed class-enrollment analysis to the School Committee Thursday, describing average class sizes, department-level data and recent enrollment changes.

Master scheduler and AP coordinator Mr. Kelly (data presenter) reported that AHS’s October 1 enrollment figure was 1,609; she noted that a change in state reporting practice removed 36 post‑graduate special education students from the official enrollment count this year, which accounts for a portion of the year-to-year apparent decrease. Current enrollment on the day of the meeting was 1,615, Kelly said.

The presentation showed an average class size (academic departments and many electives) of 21.8 students. Department means ranged from about 18.8 (performing arts) to 25.1 (digital learning and business); core academic areas averaged between about 20.1 (English) and 22.5 (history/social studies). Kelly and Principal Jimmy DeAndrea noted that ensemble music courses deliberately have larger sizes and that some lab-based science classes are capped by safety rules.

Committee members pressed for additional metrics beyond the mean. Administrators had already included median and mode on a summary chart and said they could add low/high ranges for future reports. Members also discussed the practical effect of the district’s generous early schedule-change window: because students may change sections several weeks into the year, class sizes can become uneven after opening-week balancing. Administrators said that flexibility benefits students but causes more variation in section enrollments through October.

The presentation included data on AP section counts (64 AP sections, average AP class size 21.9), dual-enrollment and Virtual High School usage, community-service credited courses, independent-study enrollments, and AHS’s Global Pathways endorsement program (41 seniors expected to receive endorsement this year). Staff said they will share the master-schedule spreadsheet linked in the meeting agenda for public review and provide the data to student government leaders.

Committee members asked how enrollment trends relate to longer-term demographic changes. DeAndrea and Kelly said some drop in enrollment followed the COVID period and the district will continue outreach (for example, AHS at a Glance events) to inform middle-school families about high-school opportunities. DeAndrea said that, if the committee wishes, staff can provide additional start-of-year versus October 1 comparisons or add specific ranges and an expanded set of statistical measures in future reports.

The item was informational; no vote was required.","AHS administrators presented October 1 enrollment and class-size data showing an average academic class size of 21.8 students and departmental breakdowns. Committee members asked for additional metrics (median/mode/range) and clarification on enrollment reporting changes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317660,"School committee approves Andover High School 2025-26 program of studies",2133,2298000,4431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c&start=2298&end=4431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c/thumbnail_2298000.jpg","/articles/6317660/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-Andover-High-School-2025-26-program-of-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317660-aab2e72e5ddb8c7090be65baeed17215/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103113&Signature=Nk4m60d3ZSm5ZUsZohCJTWYWRIHuCPuEcF4hGd~tz4li-btVkLM5NQ-VboxylvxF4TRmuoZKToBA~ls~YARncS8xko7nkJVhGK5rEXwtDGi47m7L54N4bZ5cxzCn~w2bv6ORbZ5F5IQVDctCNPpN5MYP351cu9AGmh9OQemsE418VXREJtllZ4oKjhraT8jiDZR22qVhCO56mo72CbvSpLm-ggL1ADuSBkwvpo7lsSCOytKNgegLIndZRMQJ9eqdW6LfXvvsvc2kMlaAoLvfwgmDubWL23rVugU4A5FECCcLYbkeKx3xoMqj~m48dqpU9-kP3lzXAc4LDDfrkX1qxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Andover School Committee voted 5-0 Thursday to approve the Andover High School (AHS) program of studies for the 2025-26 school year.

Principal Jimmy DeAndrea and assistant principal Ashley Hall presented a set of proposed changes intended to broaden student course options, simplify level numbering, and expand opportunities for earlier Advanced Placement coursework. Key proposals approved by the committee include piloting AP Seminar for tenth graders (as part of Modern World Studies) with College Board assessment, adding AP U.S. Government and Politics, restoring a yearbook class if sufficient interest exists, renaming several English and arts courses for clarity, splitting beginning music offerings (piano and guitar), and offering financial literacy for seniors for credit in math or digital learning.

Administrators said the district will continue to combine some English and social studies offerings in grades 11 and 12 to increase flexibility and maximize scheduling efficiency. They described AP Seminar as a research-focused course that will allow students to take the AP exam at the end of the pilot; completion of AP Seminar and a possible AP Research course would make students eligible for the AP Capstone diploma in later years.

Committee members asked how the district will communicate course options to students and families and how counselors will support decisions. DeAndrea described a multi-step outreach plan: an AHS registration information session during advisory on Feb. 24, a three-week window for preliminary course selections with subsequent individual counselor meetings for review and adjustments, additional classroom presentations by content-area teachers, and materials posted to the school website. Students and parents will be able to revise selections during counselor meetings; staff said the school aims to make course selection individualized and iterative.

Members also discussed AP exam fees and equity. DeAndrea said College Board subsidies plus Massachusetts state support reduce the exam cost for eligible students to about $22; the district has funds and procedures to cover exam costs for students for whom the reduced fee is still a barrier.

DeAndrea and Hall noted other curriculum changes intended to clarify course naming and level (for example, renaming “American Literature” as “American Voices”), split successful writing lab offerings into two grade bands, reintroduce Contemporary World Issues, and adjust art and music course titles and caps to align with classroom space and equipment. The committee asked staff to correct table-of-contents page numbers and confirmed the counseling office will notify families about AP exam-cost support.

The committee approved the program of studies by roll-call vote, 5-0. Administrators said students will receive registration information on February 24; the master schedule and final section offerings will be determined after registration and are subject to enrollment thresholds.","The committee unanimously approved the AHS 2025-26 program of studies, which adds AP U.S. Government and Politics, pilots AP Seminar for 10th graders, renames and restructures several electives, and expands course access options. Members discussed scheduling, AP exam subsidies, and counseling support for course selection.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317664,"School committee approves Doherty Middle School trip to Italy for 2026",814,1479000,2293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c&start=1479&end=2293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370118-a0e08aa5c702be910cbdd4823a072c6c/thumbnail_1479000.jpg","/articles/6317664/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-Doherty-Middle-School-trip-to-Italy-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317664-a3f07249096946f9877bdd5fba86f1ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103113&Signature=j2YkyGe0NL86QIMkTEIMsKS-c3mJBgM3F3nAJnCjTz~qii41tZ3GlCjdmawBDkXIaTjDLzO77p0yoreNnJvaCHHWW0y837Tkk5IqpWnYhDd6VG2lxqF9W4JkN3DaIzar-vA1ISAmMSj6xVkbTYhLiNA~ckR5ufswLn1-gGUIQCyTqvWHY3qtkJ09vnrqnjOp-mlGYQ-hg7NZ0F~PQZcdn1O2zPqZ6edgDo3eWuYxgkgR9XQzS8LQslpJrMjK0p9DkO9dZlC2-Avicny4ILdSJtIJZPOIv2sfSMHzU7rTAKn8TLXkmYRR0X2TKBmfl-nJJquhtWGHszR5hr0Rju~V7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Andover School Committee voted 5-0 Thursday to approve a proposed extracurricular trip for Doherty Middle School students to travel to Italy from Feb. 12 to Feb. 22, 2026.

The trip, presented by teacher and faculty sponsor Michael Givens, is open to up to 42 seventh- and eighth-grade students and would include visits to Rome, sites on Sicily’s eastern coast including Taormina, the Naples region and Pompeii. The total student cost is expected to be $4,469, including the tour package and an option for travel insurance through the tour operator (EF Tours), Givens said.

Committee members asked about how a waiting list would be handled if demand exceeds 42 students and whether priority would be given to eighth-graders. Givens said EF Tours maintains an enrollment and waiting-list process; if the list is long the school would return to the committee to request permission to expand capacity, noting that a second bus sometimes requires additional cost because of empty seats.

Members also discussed the educational content and student preparation. Givens said the itinerary ties directly to seventh-grade social studies topics—ancient Rome and classical civilizations—and noted past practice of meeting with students multiple times before travel, leading practice trips (for example to Harvard Square) and asking students to prepare for travel logistics. Committee members suggested adding a student project such as a travel journal or post-trip presentation; Givens said he has run student-created yearbooks and portfolios after previous trips and welcomed the suggestion but noted the additional faculty time required.

The motion to approve the trip referenced the district’s APS School-Sponsored Trips and Student Travel policy. Committee member Emily DeCicero moved the motion; a second was called and the committee took a roll-call vote. The motion passed 5-0.

The committee asked staff to consider how chaperones will be chosen and whether any accompanying adults speak Italian; Givens said staff will select chaperones who enjoy working with middle school students and that language skills among chaperones were not yet finalized.

Committee members said they look forward to a spring report from students who attend the trip and suggested that returning students present to the committee after the travel.

Action details and vote: The committee approved the Doherty Middle School Italy trip by roll-call vote, 5-0.","The Andover School Committee voted 5-0 to approve an 11-day student trip to Italy for Doherty Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders in February 2026. Up to 42 students may attend; student cost is $4,469. Committee members discussed enrollment limits and wait-list procedures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District consultants present revised elementary plan and two middle-school zoning options

Andover High School presents class-size and enrollment analysis to committee

School committee approves Andover High School 2025-26 program of studies

School committee approves Doherty Middle School trip to Italy for 2026