Milton schools report preliminary enrollment; board flags 27-student classes at Northside

Milton School District administrators on a July meeting detailed preliminary student registration numbers and class-size averages ahead of the 2025‑26 school year, and board members expressed concern that some classes at Northside have reached 27 students. The district said annual student registration opened the day of the meeting and runs through Aug. 10; staff emphasized the figures presented were preliminary and change daily until the district’s official enrollment count on the third Friday in September. "We don't anticipate any need to make any changes to our attendance areas, definitely not for this coming year," an administrator said while noting officials will monitor housing growth and attendance-area trends for 2026‑27. Why it matters: school enrollment and class-size trends determine staffing, classroom sections and possible boundary reviews that affect families, programs and school resources. District staff walked the board through tables showing enrollment by grade and by school, a breakdown of kindergarten-through-third-grade totals, and average class sizes. The board packet showed kindergarten as the largest incoming class and a district K–3 average class size of roughly 21.9, excluding pre‑K and 4K because those rosters are still shifting. Board members pressed for more detail about high class sizes at Northside. One board member said, "27 is a lot of students in our class," and an administrator acknowledged Northside has seen class sizes in the 25–27 range for several years but said strong teachers and supplemental math and reading supports have been used instead of adding a classroom section. The administration said it will continue monitoring registration and consider supports or additional sections if needed. The district also reported two new special-education aides had been identified for East and West for the coming year and that some positions (including an increasing advanced learning teacher) will shift FTEs across buildings to match instructional needs. Board members and staff stressed the numbers are fluid: families who move or who have not yet registered can change the roll, and the district will return with updated figures in the fall. The administration said any change to attendance boundaries would be considered well in advance and communicated to families. Less critical details: staff noted recent housing growth and new apartments are adding students in particular attendance areas and will be monitored. The district plans an additional enrollment update and a formal count on the third Friday in September.