Frequently Asked Questions

Belmont is experiencing skyrocketing enrollment. In the past six years, enrollment has increased by 631 students. Furthermore, the MSBA's demographers and an independently contracted demographer, retained by Belmont, both project a steady upward trend of an additional 100 plus students a year with a projected overall increase of 1,000 students between 2011 and 2024. In 2024, there will be close to 4,900 students in Belmont's schools.

In 2016, the BHSBC contracted with McKibben Demographics to conduct a comprehensive analysis and forecast of Belmont's demographics, including population and school enrollment forecasts.

This process was run parallel to the MSBA Demographic study for Belmont, and collectively the design enrollment numbers were confirmed for the Project. The design enrollment numbers are the basis for the layout of core classroom spaces in a new building. In addition to these numbers, there are enrollment numbers for special classrooms such as LABBB (Lexington, Arlington, Burlington, Bedford, Belmont Program for Special Education) which are incorporated into the design numbers by the MSBA. The design enrollment numbers for the 7 through 12 school, excluding LABBB, are 2,215.

The MSBA would not allow Belmont to build a fifth elementary school as part of the Belmont High School Building Project. The idea has, however, been researched extensively by the Belmont School Committee. Building a fifth elementary school in Belmont was not deemed feasible as there is no site available for a new school and there is no funding vehicle in place to fund a new elementary school.

The school department has researched this option and has determined that it is not viable. The Chenery building would have a disproportionally large number of students, while smaller schools, like Burbank and Butler, would have only two classes per grade. Neither of these scenarios support Belmont's educational vision. In addition, there is no vehicle in place to fund the renovations necessary to make Chenery an elementary school and to alter the four elementary schools so they could accommodate older students.