FRANKLIN — Superintendent Lucas Giguere wishes to share an update on Franklin Public Schools' 2024-25 District Reorganization Plan.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Franklin School Committee voted unanimously to create a boundary line determining students' assignments to elementary schools. To increase equity across all schools, Franklin is developing a new boundary line, establishing two new school communities located in the north and south within reasonable proximity to the town's school complex locations.
This Pre-K-to-8 reorganization, which will take effect for the 2025-26 school year, is based on the recommendation of the School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report. This plan includes creating a central unified middle school, consolidating five elementary schools into four schools in two complexes (each K-2 & 3-5), one early childhood school (Pre-K), and anticipated expansion at the existing Pond Street building as part of a broader plan to establish a childcare center for staff, etc. This will occur in phases over time.
The new boundary line promotes more equitable learning environments, balances class sizes, and optimizes the District's resources to meet enrollment needs. The Master Plan recommendations align with Franklin's long-term vision to provide the best educational experiences for every student in the District.
The reorganization is necessary due to declining enrollment over the last twenty years and the closure of Davis Thayer Elementary School in 2021. The Master Plan aims to provide learning environments that support high-quality educational experiences for all students, appropriate physical spaces to meet program and enrollment needs now and in the future, and phased implementation of short--, mid-, and long-term improvement strategies. Franklin Public School conducted a redistricting analysis in previous years, which served as a foundation for the decisions made in 2024.
This reorganization will allow Franklin to put students and staff in the District's most modernized facilities.
The new boundary line for 2025-26 will place 1,027 students in the north elementary zone and 904 students in the south zone, which provides sustainability and consideration for future population shifts.
"This reorganization provides incredible opportunities for our community. This change is about more than just balancing enrollment numbers — it's about creating new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and learning," Superintendent Giguere said. "By adjusting our boundaries, we are fostering a more inclusive and diverse student body, allowing our children to expand their social networks and learn alongside peers from different neighborhoods and backgrounds. This will also allow us to strategically invest in the facilities we already have in a fiscally responsible manner while ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed.