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Nashua School Board caps high-school open enrollment, limits outgoing transfers to five and admits up to 20 nonresident students
Summary
The board approved an amended open-enrollment designation under RSA 194-D for Nashua High School North and South, adopting a cap that limits resident students leaving the district to five and admits up to 20 nonresident students for 2026–27; members voiced concerns about costs and special-education implications.
The Nashua School District Board of Education voted to designate Nashua High School North and Nashua High School South as open-enrollment schools under New Hampshire RSA 194-D, approving an amended cap that limits resident students who may attend open-enrollment schools outside the district to five and admits up to 20 nonresident students to the district’s high schools for the 2026–27 school year.
Administrators presented sample language responding to recent state legislation and litigation and initially recommended a symmetric 25-in/25-out approach. Several board members said that symmetry would be unaffordable: “25 students in and out is $500,000, that we don't have,” a board member said during debate, noting limited district resources and concerns about tuition and transportation costs. The board debated starting conservatively — for example, allowing 5 students to leave while permitting a larger number to enroll — and ultimately amended the motion to 5 out / 20 in at the high-school level.
Board members also asked how incoming students with active individualized education programs (IEPs) would be handled. Staff and administration explained that incoming students would remain eligible for special-education services, that IEPs may need updating to reflect service delivery in the receiving school, and that accepted placements under the statute apply only to the coming school year. Administration warned there is legal uncertainty about which district would bear long-term special-education costs, saying there is precedent that sending districts could remain responsible and that disputes could lead to litigation.
The board clarified that if applications exceed available seats, state law requires a lottery and that specific restrictions can be written into an application (for grade levels, programs, or service models) though the board declined to add categorical exclusions. The board directed administration to prepare application materials and budget language to reflect the approved caps.
The amended motion passed by voice vote; members were clear the limits apply to the next school year and that the board can revisit the policy in the future.
