Enrolment
Students and schools
lunenburgbudgetproject.org — written by the Lunenburg Budget Project, an independent tool for residents. Not affiliated with the Town of Lunenburg, the School Committee or the school district. The data this page is computed from: /data/topics/enrolment.json
1,568 children were in Lunenburg’s schools in FY2026, near where the count has sat since FY2015. Another 177 residents were schooled in other public districts, 97 of them at Monty Tech.
1 · How many
1,568
enrolled, FY2026
1,887
enrolled, FY2003, the peak
30.0%
fall in grades 9–12 since FY2008
70
English learners, FY2026
2 · Who leaves
20.5%
of eighth graders not back for grade 9
90
leaving a year, implied (ours)
our estimate
—
where a departing eighth grader went
not published
3 · Where they go
177
schooled in other districts, FY2026
97
of them at Monty Tech
58
of them by school choice
11
arriving by school choice, FY2026
$1,334,521
Monty Tech assessment, FY2026
4 · What it adds up to
- 1
Enrolment peaked at 1,887 in FY2003 and has held near 1,568 since FY2015.
- 2
The high school did most of the shrinking: grades 9–12 fell 30.0%.
- 3
One step loses children: 20.5% of eighth graders are not back for grade 9.
- 4
Of 177 residents schooled elsewhere, 97 are at Monty Tech, a district the town belongs to.
- 5
No published record says why any child left, or where an eighth grader went.
How many
Enrolment by year
1,568 children in FY2026: 319 fewer than the FY2003 peak, and close to where the count has sat since FY2015.
Enrolment by grade band
Grades 9–12 lost 30.0% of their children from FY2008 to FY2026; pre-K to grade 5 lost 5.8%.
High-needs students
English learners went from 3 to 70; low income was measured three ways and is not one series.
Nearby district enrolment
Lunenburg’s enrolment fell 14.0% from FY2008 to FY2026; 3 of 4 nearby districts fell further.
Who leaves, and when
Grade-to-grade loss
On average 20.5% of eighth graders do not return for grade 9; other grades lose 3.0% to 6.4%.
Grade 8 loss trend
The latest grade 8 rate, 27.7%, is the second-highest of 17 years, inside a range the town has always been in.
Leaving and arriving
DESE’s rates imply about 90 children leave each year; enrolment fell 171 in 17 years.
Where they go
Children schooled elsewhere
177 resident children were in other public districts in FY2026, against 186 in FY2014; the mix changed.
Also under School spending
School choice flows
58 residents left under school choice in FY2026 and 11 arrived; arrivals were 44 in FY2014.
Departure scenario
A scenario on assumed rates: 78 students choosing out would take $401,700 from the town in year one.
Monty Tech
Students with plans
Elsewhere on the site
| Year | All | Pre-K to 5 | Grades 6–8 | Grades 9–12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 1,568 | 745 | 382 | 433 |
| FY2025 | 1,563 | 719 | 382 | 452 |
| FY2024 | 1,580 | 761 | 363 | 449 |
| FY2023 | 1,562 | 737 | 380 | 440 |
| FY2022 | 1,597 | 740 | 402 | 450 |
| FY2021 | 1,593 | 729 | 386 | 474 |
| FY2020 | 1,641 | 777 | 406 | 452 |
| FY2019 | 1,649 | 790 | 393 | 458 |
| FY2018 | 1,641 | 767 | 423 | 442 |
| FY2017 | 1,613 | 786 | 388 | 433 |
| FY2016 | 1,567 | 759 | 374 | 429 |
| FY2015 | 1,557 | 771 | 359 | 425 |
| FY2014 | 1,564 | 756 | 375 | 430 |
| FY2013 | 1,587 | 741 | 386 | 456 |
| FY2012 | 1,637 | 741 | 386 | 504 |
| FY2011 | 1,650 | 733 | 381 | 535 |
| FY2010 | 1,702 | 759 | 402 | 541 |
| FY2009 | 1,739 | 773 | 395 | 566 |
| FY2008 | 1,824 | 791 | 413 | 619 |
| FY2007 | 1,844 | 793 | 417 | 629 |
| FY2006 | 1,836 | 788 | 429 | 615 |
| FY2005 | 1,822 | 782 | 420 | 619 |
| FY2004 | 1,830 | 792 | 449 | 589 |
| FY2003 | 1,887 | 842 | 457 | 588 |
| FY2002 | 1,851 | 832 | 457 | 561 |
| FY1999 | 1,830 | 857 | 431 | 542 |
| FY1994 | 1,758 | 872 | 403 | 483 |
DESE’s enrolment by grade file, Lunenburg district rows. The bands do not add to the total by the few students DESE counts beyond grade 12.