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Consultant outlines five K–3 boundary scenarios to boost Fales Elementary and balance demographics
Summary
Dillinger Research presented five initial attendance‑zone scenarios for Westborough’s three K–3 schools, including satellite zones to raise Fales Elementary’s utilization to around 80%; the committee recommended targeted outreach (virtual meeting Dec. 8) before finalizing scenarios in January.
Dillinger Research and Applied Data presented five initial scenarios to rebalance enrollment across Westborough’s three K–3 elementary schools and to increase utilization at Fales Elementary School.
Nick Delano of Dillinger told the School Committee the project’s goals are to maximize space in the new Fales building, promote long‑term enrollment stability, and create more equitable class sizes and student experiences across Armstrong, Fales and Hastings. "These are initial scenarios," Delano said, adding they are straw men intended to trigger public discussion and further modeling.
The firm’s analysis shows Armstrong enrolls roughly 400 K–3 students with an estimated maximum capacity near 470 (about 81% current utilization). Fales, the district’s newest building, has a similar physical capacity but is operating at about 60% utilization (roughly 281 students). Hastings was described as the district’s most diverse K–3 population with approximately 321 students and current utilization around 74%.
Scenario 1 would create two new satellite zones (one within Armstrong and one within Hastings) and shift portions of Armstrong into Fales, moving roughly 100 K–3 students to Fales and increasing its utilization into the targeted ~80% range; Delano said that would also improve demographic balance and free instructional space in Hastings. Other scenarios test alternative satellite mixes, boundary expansions, and a no‑satellite option that Delano warned could produce "demographic isolation" at Fales.
Committee members focused questions on walkability, bus routes and travel time. Delano said the packet includes average travel distances (baseline ~1.7 miles) and that the team will run travel‑time models as scenarios are refined. He also said the district’s bus coordinator is part of the strategic working group reviewing feasibility.
Several committee members favored Scenario 1 for its combined benefits to utilization and diversity, while others urged caution about splitting neighborhoods or creating long bus runs for K–3 students. Delano said Dillinger will hold a virtual community meeting on Dec. 8, reopen surveys Dec. 8–19 for targeted outreach to affected multifamily developments, and return three refined scenarios to the committee in January.
The committee did not adopt a final plan; members asked staff and the consultant to prioritize community outreach, provide travel‑time modeling, and run at least one option that tests higher utilization thresholds (e.g., 85%) at Fales.
