Wareham Public Schools to remain a school choice district

Students who do not live in town can still attend Wareham Public Schools through school choice.

School choice is the option for students to apply for attendance at a school outside of the district they live in. Committee members voted to make Wareham Public Schools a participating district once more at the Thursday, April 2 School Committee meeting. 

Students kindergarten through 12th grade can apply to be a Wareham student if they do not live within district boundaries. This decision includes PASS students, the night school program at the high school.

When students are accepted through school-choice, the sending district pays for their education. This means for every student that enrolls at a non-Wareham public school, the district loses money. 

Those who enroll from out of town won't have to reapply for school choice when moving up a grade. This also applies to students who might leave Wareham for a different school and come back to the district at a later point. 

Each school has a cap of how many out-of-district students it can accept. 

Middle school Principal Sara Russo said that number fluctuates every year as Wareham-based students get priority for enrollment. Russo was in support of school choice citing the good relationships teachers had with families who opt in "because they choose to be with us." 

Opposed to school choice in the past, high school Principal Scott Paladino said he would not recommend accepting out-of-district students. According to Paladino, classes are full and incoming high school students opting in have had behavioral issues in the past. 

"Close to 90% of our school choice students that we let in— were coming in because they had burned bridges at their previous schools," he said. 

The application form for school choice does not include transcripts, attendance records or disciplinary actions from the students former district. Paladino was in support of the option for elementary and middle schools. 

"We have those kids (school choice students) but they've been here since a young age and settle into the district," he said. 

One such example is Student Representative on the committee, Pricilla Ross. Moving to Middleboro when she was in elementary school, Ross is a school choice student and has remained in the district. 

Ross, a senior, participates in multiple extracurriculars like Deca, track and volleyball. She said she formed a strong bond with Wareham and that staying in district was "really good" for her.

"It was a really good opportunity to this day," she said. "Even now I don't regret my choice." 

Principals must have the number of school choice students their school can accept by Friday, May 1. Those interested in applying for school choice can visit warehamps.org.