Enrolment

Enrolment by year

Also under Homes and taxes

1,568 children in FY2026: 319 fewer than the FY2003 peak, and close to where the count has sat since FY2015.

Children enrolled, every year
Enrolled, DESE headcount
FY19941,758 children
FY1995not published
FY1996not published
FY1997not published
FY1998not published
FY19991,830 children
FY2000not published
FY2001not published
FY20021,851 children
FY20031,887 children
FY20041,830 children
FY20051,822 children
FY20061,836 children
FY20071,844 children
FY20081,824 children
FY20091,739 children
FY20101,702 children
FY20111,650 children
FY20121,637 children
FY20131,587 children
FY20141,564 children
FY20151,557 children
FY20161,567 children
FY20171,613 children
FY20181,641 children
FY20191,649 children
FY20201,641 children
FY20211,593 children
FY20221,597 children
FY20231,562 children
FY20241,580 children
FY20251,563 children
FY20261,568 children

DESE’s 1 October headcount. A gap is a year the file does not print.

1 · The facts

  • 1,568

    enrolled, 1 October, FY2026

  • 1,887

    enrolled, FY2003, the peak

  • 1,557

    enrolled, FY2015, the low

  • 1,649

    the highest year since FY2015

  • 17.5%

    fall from FY2003 to FY2015 (our arithmetic)

  • 1,585

    in the FY2025 annual town report’s table

  • 17

    of them listed as school choice students

  • 15

    of DESE’s FY2026 count, resident in another town

  • 1,581

    in and out of district, FY2026, DESE special education file

2 · What it shows

  1. 1

    Enrolment fell 17.5% from FY2003 to FY2015, then stopped falling.

  2. 2

    Every year since FY2015 has been between 1,557 and 1,649 children.

  3. 3

    Three published counts of the same year’s children read 1,568, 1,581 and 1,585.

  4. 4

    DESE’s 1,568 includes 15 children from other towns; the town’s table adds 17 more.

DESE enrolment by year, 1 October headcount
YearAllPre-K to 5Grades 6–8Grades 9–12
FY20261,568745382433
FY20251,563719382452
FY20241,580761363449
FY20231,562737380440
FY20221,597740402450
FY20211,593729386474
FY20201,641777406452
FY20191,649790393458
FY20181,641767423442
FY20171,613786388433
FY20161,567759374429
FY20151,557771359425
FY20141,564756375430
FY20131,587741386456
FY20121,637741386504
FY20111,650733381535
FY20101,702759402541
FY20091,739773395566
FY20081,824791413619
FY20071,844793417629
FY20061,836788429615
FY20051,822782420619
FY20041,830792449589
FY20031,887842457588
FY20021,851832457561
FY19991,830857431542
FY19941,758872403483

DESE’s enrolment by grade file, Lunenburg district rows. The bands do not add to the total by the few students DESE counts beyond grade 12.

Sources

What changed

Version 15 — updated September 20, 2026