School Choice

In Massachusetts, school choice allows students to attend a public school in a district other than the one that serves their home address.

The Mattapoisett and regional school committees each hold a public hearing about school choice every winter. This year, the school choice public hearing for Mattapoisett (Center and Old Hammondtown schools) was held on March 19th.

Committee members discussed prioritizing not adding so many additional seats that it would necessitate the hiring of additional staff. As a result, they voted to have 14 total school choice spots for the 2026-2027 school year, allowing existing school choice students to continue on and adding two spots in the incoming 1st grade and two in the incoming 6th grade.

Students who attend Center and Old Hammondtown schools through school choice must apply separately for admission to ORR when they finish the 6th grade. Students are selected through school choice through a blind lottery.

Districts are reimbursed at a level set by the state. In FY 2025, the rate was $5000.

Because our school committee has not opened up more seats than we have teachers for, the school choice program at the elementary level is a source of revenue for our district.

You can learn more about school choice in our district here.