Pembroke school committee declines interdistrict school choice for 2025; may consider high school next year

The Pembroke School Committee voted during a public hearing April 29 to not participate in interdistrict school choice for the 2025–26 school year, following a presentation on enrollment, costs and classroom capacity.

District presenter Erin, a staff member, told the committee that “we as a district have never participated in inter district school choice,” and walked the committee through how the program works, tuition revenues and the limits on seats and grades a district may offer. She said the state’s base tuition for choice is $5,000 and added that “there’s a sped increment piece depending upon the student,” producing an average revenue figure the presenter described as roughly $7,000 per incoming choice student for districts that accept transfers.

Committee members and staff focused discussion on classroom capacity, special-education needs and recent changes to Pembroke High School’s graduation requirements. Erin said the district spends about $19,000 per pupil in-district, and that “$5,000 is in no way, shape, or form covering the cost of a teacher or a paraprofessional.” She recommended against opening elementary…