Choosing a public school Boston Suburbs of MA (Attleboro, Marshfield: to rent, house) - Massachusetts - City-Data Forum

heather3 · 07-26-2011, 09:10 AM

Does anyone know if you can pick the elementary, middle or high school you'd like your children to attend, or do you have to go to the one in your district? Not sure how the towns are broken down in MA, but here in MD, you go to the one the Board of Ed has chosen for the area you live in/near. Sometimes, the lines are very strange (you could go to School A but the person across the street from you goes to School B). You can receive a waiver to attend another school (especially if a parent is a teacher there) but if it's closed/full you have to attend the one you were supposed to in the first place.

The reason I ask was I like the fact I can afford a nice house in Attleboro, MA but was wondering if my kids could go to North Attleboro High instead of Attleboro if they wanted.

Thank you!

NotAPrincess · 07-26-2011, 09:31 AM

Generally school districts are by location (much like in MD), but every town is different. If there's a particular town you're interested in, like Attleboro, you should call the school administration and ask.

beth98 · 07-26-2011, 09:34 AM

Generally no. School district in MA are by town with a some towns sharing a school system (regional schools) not by county like in Maryland so the lines general fall town by town and are more rigid. A few towns participate in something called "School Choice" (look on the dept of ed site) but I don't believe Attleboro or North Attleboro is one of them. Some school systems do allow a teacher's kids to attend the school system their parent teaches in, but I'm not sure about North Attleboro

heather3 · 07-26-2011, 03:01 PM

Thanks for the info! I thought someone had written on a post awhile ago that you could choose, but then you'd have overcrowding at one school and a half empty one at another.

rebelins66 · 07-26-2011, 09:00 PM

My guess is you would not be able to do what you proposed. In fact, I believe Attleboro and North Attleborough are complete seperate towns in terms of government and school systems.

wivenhoe · 07-28-2011, 05:16 AM

North Attleboro is a town; Attleboro is a city. North Attleboro doesn't have school choice, from what I know. I grew up in the town, but I would strongly doubt North Attleboro would allow school choice due to a possible influx from Attleboro and any possible urban issues as a result.

North Attleboro has a higher rated school system than Attleboro. If you want your children to go to the school in N. Attleboro, I suggest finding property there, either to rent or buy.

chaxey · 07-28-2011, 11:53 AM

Most towns will allow you to go to their school systems even if you are not a resident, SO LONG AS YOU PAY FOR IT. I had several friends that lived in nearby Marshfield, but attended Scituate Public Schools back in the day (20 eyars ago). This may have changed, but essentially, if you are willing to pay the per student cost, they'll let you attend. Youd' have to reach out the the superindendants office of the township you were considering moving to. The only other caveat may be that those students were grandfathered in since they had previously been residents of the town. At any rate, I'm sure it varies from town to town.

snatale1 · 07-31-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heather3

Does anyone know if you can pick the elementary, middle or high school you'd like your children to attend, or do you have to go to the one in your district? Not sure how the towns are broken down in MA, but here in MD, you go to the one the Board of Ed has chosen for the area you live in/near. Sometimes, the lines are very strange (you could go to School A but the person across the street from you goes to School B). You can receive a waiver to attend another school (especially if a parent is a teacher there) but if it's closed/full you have to attend the one you were supposed to in the first place.

The reason I ask was I like the fact I can afford a nice house in Attleboro, MA but was wondering if my kids could go to North Attleboro High instead of Attleboro if they wanted.

Thank you!

A lot of times you can complain to the school dept and get gids moved, but N. Attleboro is not part of the City of Attleboro, I don't think you could pull that one off.