Superintendent proposes small school‑choice pilot for 2025–26; committee schedules public process

Superintendent Douglas Lyons proposed April 29 that Wakefield Public Schools run a small pilot through Massachusetts' school‑choice program for the 2025–26 year: offer two seats per grade in grades 2–12, for 22 seats total, and use a blind lottery if applications exceed seats.

"What I've shared with the committee is kind of an architecture to accept just 2 students per grade from grade 2 through grade 12. That's 22 students in total," Lyons told the School Committee. Lyons described the proposal as a cautious, "learn by doing" approach intended to start small, provide a potential benefit for faculty and staff (who could enter the lottery), and generate state aid if seats are filled.

Administrators and committee members outlined logistics and limits. The district would need to specify the exact number of seats offered by grade; as Lyons put it, "So if we're saying 2 By grade. Then…