During the 2024-25 school year, 215 Marblehead students transferred out of the district — the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most, 83 students, enrolled in private schools in Massachusetts. Another 70 transferred to other public schools, including charter schools.
Superintendent John Robidoux updated the School Committee with new enrollment data at a Dec. 18 meeting, addressing concerns about a steady decline over the past decade.
Robidoux said Marblehead Public Schools has lost an average of 3.88% of its students annually since 2019. He noted that enrollment declines are most pronounced during transition years — from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school.
“Transition years between buildings are always a pinch point,” Robidoux said. “We have significant numbers of students who attend private, charter and vocational options, especially in the secondary grades.”
Robidoux added that enrollment declines are affecting districts statewide as birth rates continue to fall. The U.S. Department of Education projects that K-12 public school enrollment in Massachusetts will drop by about 40,000 students, or 4.5%, by 2030.
Beyond birth rates, Robidoux cited broader demographic and housing trends, including Marblehead’s aging population and limited development of new family housing.
He emphasized that declining enrollment does not automatically translate to fewer teachers or programs.
“The decline in enrollment is rarely in large pockets that would result in specific classroom reductions,” Robidoux said. “Instead, the decline is spread across grade levels, so fewer students do not necessarily equate to similar reductions in staff. It’s important to frame the discussion that way.”
School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner challenged that view, pointing to the scale of the decline.
“We’re down almost 1,000 students in 10 years. This is not just incremental,” she said. “We have a responsibility as a School Committee to understand the budget ramifications and what the opportunities are.”
Robidoux and Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira also presented data showing how many Marblehead students attend private schools in the region. Among the most popular are Tower School, St. John’s Prep, Pingree School and Epstein Hillel School.
“We can’t compete with the St. John’s Preps of the world, and if a student is choosing vocational education, for many reasons that’s difficult to contend with,” Robidoux said. “But there are schools on this list — what are they doing differently?”
State data shows about 81% of children who live in Marblehead attend the town’s public schools, a figure Ferreira said is consistent with similar communities that offer private, parochial and other educational options.
Robidoux concluded by reaffirming confidence in the district.
“Enrollment is down,” he said, “but I still contend we provide rigorous learning for our students.”
