Fewer Students Leaving Mansfield for Private High Schools

For the first time in years, the Mansfield Public Schools saw a decrease in the amount of students leaving for private education at the start of high school.

During Tuesday’s school committee meeting, Business Manager Ed Vozzella said only 21 ninth graders left Mansfield, a large improvement from the 42-56 that have left on average over the last 5 years.

“Maybe we can’t read too much into it but that’s a big improvement,” Vozzella said.

The smaller decrease is similar to pre-2011 numbers that saw only 18-20 students would leave.

“This is a good trend if it continues. I think it shows some community satisfaction with the job we’re doing at the high school,” Superintendent Zeffro Gianetti said.

Overall, there are 3,996 students in the school district, 74 above projections. In second grade, there are 13 more students than expected, but Gianetti said the schools should be able to absorb the extra children. The ninth grade class was also 19 students above projections.