SWAMPSCOTT — Enrollment in the Town’s elementary, middle, and high school for 2025-26 is expected to remain level with previous years, according to Swampscott Public Schools Director of Teaching and Learning Sarah Kent.
She noted 121 new students enrolled into the schools as of Oct. 1, and that 42.1% of those kids went into the elementary school, 37.2% went into the middle school, and 20.7% went into the high school.
Kent also broke down what percentage of students came to Swampscott Public Schools from various places.
Roughly 53.3% of students came from Massachusetts public schools; 22.9% of students came from Massachusetts private schools; 15.2% came from out of state; 3.8% came from out of the country; 2.9% came from online schools; and 1.9% came from being homeschooled.
Kent also broke down reasons for students leaving Swampscott Public Schools during the 2024-25 school year, resulting in a total of 81 withdrawals.
In the elementary school, 10 students moved out of the district, one transferred to homeschool, six to charter schools, and five to private schools. The middle school saw nine students move out of the district, 10 transferred to Essex Tech, and 13 to private school. For high school students, 14 moved out of the district, four transferred to Essex Tech, one to an online school, and seven to private schools. Kent added that this data came from Data Specialist Patricia Nottingham.
“Last year, for Swampscott Elementary School, the total number of enrollment was 735 students. This year it’s 747,” Kent said. “The high school had 704 students last year; this year it’s 675. And at the middle school, the total number of students was 663 last year, and now it’s 674.”
Though the enrollment looks level to previous years, Kent noted it’s something that Swampscott Public Schools intend to keep an eye on.
“We’re trying to make sure that we know the needs of our kids, and to make sure that our school system best meets the needs of our students. That’s really what it’s all about,” Kent said. “Also, we’re trying to serve the community as best we can.”
Superintendent Jason Calichman said it’s a priority for the schools to create a culture where the kids want to come to class each day.
“I think that our attendance rates staying relatively stable shows that we’re doing a good job with that. If they get here every day and feel valued, supported, and, quite frankly, loved, they’re going to want to come to school and enroll here,” Calichman said.
