School programs
Programs and cuts
lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/topics/school-programs.json
Lunenburg High ran more classes in SY2025 than in SY2017, but a smaller share takes a language or history. Most announced cuts cannot be checked against any published count, and most budget lines cut to zero came back.
| High school | Middle school | |
|---|---|---|
| SY2017 | 70.1% | 60.5% |
| SY2018 | 69.5% | 94.9% |
| SY2019 | 67.8% | 97.8% |
| SY2020 | 69.9% | 31.5% |
| SY2021 | 52.4% | 62.5% |
| SY2022 | 63.5% | 61.5% |
| SY2023 | 62.4% | 61.0% |
| SY2024 | 65.2% | 32.8% |
| SY2025 | 57.8% | 29.3% |
DESE’s class-size file: distinct students taking a language over the school’s own count.
1 · What ran
247
high school sections, SY2025; 225 in SY2017
57.8%
of the high school took a language, SY2025
60.4%
took history, average SY2023 to SY2025
89
sat at least one AP exam, SY2025
88.3%
of AP tests scored 3 to 5, SY2025
2 · What was cut
158
reductions the district named, 5 cycles
48
of 60 adopted cuts no series can test
13
posts the May 2024 override took off the list
93
of 132 lines cut to zero funded again
—
which posts named for cutting were removed
not published
3 · When grants end
42.2%
of the FY2025 grant fall replaced from the general fund
our estimate
89.9%
of school spending from the general fund, FY2025
4 · What it adds up to
- 1
The high school ran 247 sections in SY2025, more than in SY2017, on flat enrolment.
- 2
Languages and history are taken by a smaller share of the school than before.
- 3
89 students sat an AP exam in SY2025, and 88.3% of tests scored 3 or better.
- 4
A cut list is intent: 48 of 60 adopted cuts name a job no series counts.
- 5
Most school lines cut to zero came back: 93 of 132.
- 6
When grants fell in FY2025, the general fund replaced 42.2% of the fall.
What ran
- High school sections →Lunenburg High ran 247 course sections in SY2025 against 225 in SY2017, with 438 students against 435.
- World languages →57.8% of Lunenburg High took a language in SY2025, against 70.1% in SY2017; the middle school fell further.
- History courses →60.4% of Lunenburg High took a history course in SY2023 to SY2025, against 75.8% in SY2017 to SY2019.
- Computer science →In 11 school years holding grades 9–12, Lunenburg High recorded 1 computer science section.
Advanced Placement
- AP participation →89 students sat at least one AP exam in SY2025, 154 sittings between them; the count peaked at 122 in SY2018.
- AP scores →88.3% of AP tests scored 3 or better in SY2025, the highest of 19 years; the lowest was 62.1% in SY2009.
- AP subjects →117 of 154 AP exams in SY2025 were English or history; science and math were 31.
What was cut
- Announced cuts →The district named 158 reductions in 9 budget documents across 5 cycles; none records what became of a post.Also under Budget options
- Override cut lists →The May 2024 override took 13 posts off the cut list; the 9 left match posts listed as cut for loss of ESSER.Also under Budget options
- Cuts against state counts →Of 60 adopted school cuts, 48 name a job no series counts; of the other 12, the state’s count fell with 6.
- Lines cut to zero →93 of 132 school lines cut to zero were funded again later; the 39 that never were carried $181,180.