The District has determined that elementary school buffer zones are needed to help balance enrollment and maintain class sizes within School Committee guidelines at each of our elementary schools. Buffer zones are areas identified on our district zone maps where newly registered students, or students whose home address is changing, may be assigned to one of two elementary schools. 

 

Buffer zones create greater flexibility in student assignments, help us stay within class size guidelines, and enable staffing in a fiscally responsible manner. Buffer zones are especially vital in a district that experiences fluctuations in Kindergarten enrollment and has small elementary schools. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is a buffer zone?

Buffer zones are areas on the boundary between existing elementary school district zones. For addresses that fall into a buffer zone, incoming students may be assigned to one of two elementary schools to help maintain class sizes within School Committee guidelines. Depending on grade level enrollment, a newly registering student in a buffer zone could be assigned to a different elementary school from the one originally zoned for their address. 

 

Does this apply to me?

It is likely that very few students will be affected. If your address is in a buffer zone and you have a newly registering student, the student may be assigned to a different elementary school from the one originally listed for your address.  This only applies to entering kindergarten students or newly registered students at other elementary grades (ex. a new move-in, or a student previously attending a private school) who DO NOT have a sibling currently in a Westwood elementary school. The district has committed to not separating siblings at elementary schools. 

 

What happens during registration if my address is in a buffer zone?

When registering a new student, addresses that fall into a buffer zone will appear as [Elementary School Name: Buffer Zone]. This indicates that: Your student will most likely attend the elementary school that is assigned to your address by default, but if enrollment numbers require, the student may be assigned to an elementary school in the next nearest district zone. 

 

What addresses are in the buffer zones?

Maps of elementary assignment zones will be generated with the buffer zone addresses indicated, and a list of the buffer zone addresses will be published. 

 

What are the odds of it impacting a new family?

The district follows specific class size guidelines before implementing buffer zone assignment. For example, buffer zone assignment may not be used until a kindergarten class size reaches 18 students. For more information, please see the full guidelines on class sizes here.

 

What are the benefits of buffer zones?

The district and the School Committee are committed to addressing recent concerns around large class sizes at elementary grade levels across several schools. The buffer zone strategy is an effort to help alleviate large class sizes where possible, to better align with School Committee class size recommendations. 

 

How will the district determine school assignments in buffer zones?

1. Existing school assignment zones will remain unchanged. This means that the primary elementary school associated with an address will remain the same. 

 

2. Siblings will continue to be assigned to the same elementary school together. For the purpose of buffer zone assignment, rising Middle School students are not counted as siblings in the same elementary school. In addition, existing practices for student assignment to Special Education programs will be unchanged. 

 

3. Families of students that reside in buffer zone addresses will be given the opportunity to state a preference for which elementary school to which they would like their child assigned. Family preference may be taken into consideration along with other pertinent factors, but will not be the sole determining factor in determining school assignment.

4. The district recognizes the importance of neighborhood connections for students and families, and will make efforts to exercise buffer zone assignments with minimal disruption to those connections.

 

5. Buffer zones assignment will be used when the volume and pace of student registrations suggests that the enrollment at the start of the school year will likely exceed the school committee class size guidelines. 

 

6. Buffer zone assignment will not be used before enrollment reaches specific thresholds: 

a. Grades K-3: 18 students per classroom

b. Grades 4-5: 20 students per classroom

 

7. Bus detours and the length of bus rides will be minimized wherever possible. The ability of students to walk to school will be taken into consideration during assignment. Every effort will be made to prioritize bus-eligible buffer zones over walker zones in exercising flexible school assignment.  Eligibility for yellow bus transportation for a buffer zone school will be determined in accordance with the School Committee transportation policy. 

 

If I live in a buffer zone, when will I learn which school my student is assigned to?

Families that reside in buffer zone addresses will be informed of the school assignment in accordance with the date of registration. If they registered by:

 

a.  May 1, then they will be informed by May 15

b.  After May 1, but on or before June 1, then they will be informed by June 15

c.  After June 1, within three weeks or August 20, whichever comes first

d.  After August 20, on a rolling basis at the time of registration

 

The final decision about school assignment for students in buffer zones rests with the Superintendent of Schools and is not subject to appeal.