Nashoba reports October enrollment dip and early planning for 2026–27 calendar as high school demolition looms

Superintendent Kirk Downing told the Nashoba Regional School Committee on Oct. 8 that the district—s official October 1 enrollment count is not yet certified by the state but that the district—s October numbers show a modest decline from last year.

"Our October number last year was 2,998. We look to be 20 students below that this year," Downing said. He explained that enrollment projections use a five-year kindergarten average and that kindergarten counts are particularly difficult to forecast.

Downing said the district intends to accelerate work on the 2026–27 calendar because of plans to begin abatement and demolition at the current high school immediately after the June 2027 school year ends. "When we leave the high school in June '27, we begin abatement and demolishing that high school right away," he said, and the calendar committee is working now to provide the committee a recommendation in late November or early December.

He told the committee that state-level changes also influenced the timeline: this coming election cycle will have a September 1 primary and an off-cycle November election in 2026, which affects scheduling. Downing said the committee should expect a calendar vote roughly at the Dec. 3 meeting "just as a baseline."

During questions, staff stated the planned capacity of the new high school is 900 students and offered other capacity figures noted during planning discussion. Committee members asked about class-size and grade-to-grade shifts; Downing and staff said the district is monitoring school choice and program decisions that affect high school enrollments.

The Oct. 1 enrollment figures are draft until DESE certifies them, Downing said, typically in December.