January 14, 2206 By Carol Britton Meyer
A presentation related to NESDEC (New England School Development Council) Hingham Public School enrollment study projections shared with the school committee this week predicts an elementary uptick over 3- and 10-year spans.
Superintendent of Schools Katie Roberts shared the most updated projections (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pkR049DS9EZh7WCRcj6AaOfi3EN_IQh1/view) NESDEC has forecasted for the Hingham Public Schools.
“The district previously commissioned a 10-year NESDEC enrollment study in 2018, prior to being invited by the Massachusetts School Building Authority into the core building grant program for the new Foster school,” Roberts told the Hingham Anchor in response to a follow-up email after the meeting.
That study provided projections for school years 2019-2029. “Given pandemic-driven demographic shifts, HPS commissioned a 2025-2035 study in order to provide more accurate near-term projections for immediate planning and longer-term enrollment projections for longer-term planning,” Roberts explained.
With new factors –including the opening of Foster School, recent increases in kindergarten enrollment, and variability in private school trends — HPS commissioned a revised 10-year NESDEC projection for 2026-2036.
The latest projections are based on October 2025 K-12 enrollment data and incorporate considerations such as birth rates, in-out-migration, and private school, out-of-district, vo-tech and homeschool trends.
Overall enrollment trends demonstrate a positive uptick, and of particular note is that over the next three years, elementary enrollments are projected by NESDEC to increase by 164 students — with a net increase of 304 elementary students predicted over the next 10 years.
“We are thrilled to see these healthy enrollment projections, and will continue to closely monitor enrollment data to ensure appropriate staffing and budgeting,” Roberts said.