Worcester Schools Release Proposals For Adjusted School Assignments, Zones

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Public Schools is seeking community feedback on initial proposals that could reshape school assignments, student pathways and schedules across the district.

Consultants from Dillinger Research and Applied Data will present the proposals at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Doherty Memorial High School. The meeting will begin a three-month public comment period before the district administration and Worcester School Committee receive final recommendations in December.

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District officials have not finalized any decisions.

The Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project is intended to reduce classroom overcrowding, establish clearer pathways from elementary through high school, expand access to full-day preschool and make bus transportation available to more students.

Proposed Boundary, Schedule And Program Changes

Under the initial scenarios, school assignment boundaries would be redrawn to better balance enrollment. Residents can use the district's Community Input Mapping Tool to review possible address-specific changes.

Each elementary school would feed into one middle school while each middle school would feed into one high school.

The proposals would also establish three sets of school hours:

• All high schools, Burncoat Middle School and specialized programs would operate from 7:15 a.m. to 1:38 p.m.
• Other middle schools and elementary schools with special education hub programs would operate from 8:15 a.m. to 2:38 p.m.
• Remaining neighborhood elementary schools would operate from 9:05 a.m. to 3:28 p.m.

The district also recommends establishing at least one full-day preschool classroom in every elementary school over several years as federal and local funding allows.

Several schools and neighborhoods could face more specific changes. Belmont Street Elementary School would move from the North Quadrant to the Burncoat Quadrant.

Jacob Hiatt Elementary School would change from a citywide magnet school to a neighborhood school, which district officials said would help relieve overcrowding at Chandler Elementary School. The district said Jacob Hiatt's former magnet programming ended years ago.

The Gerald Creamer Center at 120 Granite St. would become a neighborhood PreK-6 school to reduce overcrowding at Rice Square and Grafton Street elementary schools. The alternative high school program now housed there would move to the Fanning Building on Chatham Street.

Sixth-graders from Rice Square and Grafton Street would attend Worcester East Middle School. Rice Square students have already made that transition.

Worcester Arts Magnet Elementary School would become a neighborhood school to accommodate expected enrollment growth from new housing in the Burncoat Quadrant. The arts magnet program could move to Francis J. McGrath Elementary School near Forest Grove Middle School.

The Plumley Village housing development would be assigned entirely to City View Elementary School. Students there are currently divided between City View and Belmont Street schools.

Several schools could also be renamed to remove terms such as "community" or "magnet" when the related programs are no longer offered.

WPS plans to hold eight public forums and meetings between Sept. 2 and Nov. 7.

Residents may also send comments to alignment@worcesterschools.net or join the project's ParentSquare group for updates.

See Also:

• Worcester Students To Get Free Breakfast, Lunch In The Upcoming School Year
• Worcester Schools Names 11 Principals For 2026-27