Feeder Pattern Bigelow/Day
Bigelow and Day Feeder Pattern Options
On December 19, 2022, the School Committee voted to support the “Cabot-Split” option to address the identified enrollment challenges at both Bigelow and Day Middle Schools. This decision will change the feeder pattern for Cabot Elementary School students. Cabot students will now attend either Bigelow Middle School or Day Middle School for 6th grade, depending upon their address.
For reference, linked below is a map of the Cabot district. It shows which students will attend Bigelow and which will attend Day.
Please note: the map shows the current Cabot elementary district. Students with addresses within the blue-outlined part of the map will feed to Bigelow (this includes addresses on both sides of Harvard Street, Harvard Circle, and both sides of Blake Street). Cabot students who reside outside of the Cabot district (faculty/staff students, students residing in Boston, and out-of-assigned district students at Cabot) will attend Bigelow.
There is no change for Lincoln-Eliot students with the selection of the "Cabot-Split" option. All Lincoln-Eliot students will continue to feed to Bigelow Middle School.
As a reminder, this option is being implemented for two reasons:
-
Bigelow enrollment is declining in a way that will directly impact the educational experience of its students in the future. The decline is projected to continue based on a decline in enrollment at its current “feeder schools.” (Lincoln-Eliot, Underwood, Ward.)
-
Day Middle School is higher than the ideal target enrollment for an NPS middle school (based on team size, core building space, and educational experience.)
The City database is now being updated to reflect this decision. Once the database has been updated, families will be able to login to view your assigned middle school.
Meetings
Families are welcome to attend the following meetings to learn more about the proposed options for Cabot and Lincoln-Eliot feeder patterns.
- Day Middle School: Friday, October 28, 2022 at 8:15 a.m.
- Bigelow Middle School: Monday, October 31, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.
- Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School - Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
- Cabot Elementary School: Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
- Cabot Elementary School: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
- Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School - Monday, Nov 21, 2022 at 8:15 a.m. (in-person)
In addition to the meetings listed above, parents/guardians may provide feedback to the School Committee at its meeting on November 7, 2022. Login information can be found on the School Committee webpage.
A final decision will be made by the School Committee on December 19, 2022.
Informational Materials
"Cabot-Split" Map
The map shows the current Cabot elementary district. Students with addresses within the blue outlined part of the map will feed to Bigelow (this includes addresses on both sides of Harvard Street, Harvard Circle, and both sides of Blake Street). Cabot students who reside outside of the Cabot district (faculty/staff students, students residing in Boston, and out-of-assigned district students at Cabot) will attend Bigelow.
Memo to School Committee - November 17, 2022
This memo includes a map for the proposed "Cabot Split" option.
Frequently Asked Questions - Feeder Pattern Options
- How can I share feedback with NPS and the School Committee on the feeder pattern options?
- What happens to socioeconomic and racial/ethnic diversity at Bigelow and at Day with each option?
- What about students’ social and emotional well-being?
- Why are we just finding out about this now?
- With the Cabot split, what percentage of each grade level at Cabot would feed to Bigelow?
- What happens if this decision is delayed for one year?
- With the “swap” option, it seems like Cabot students would be the dominant population at Bigelow? Is this true?
- Does the size of the school have any impact on class size or student:teacher ratio?
- What happens to the number of teams for each option?
- Is there any difference between the Day and Bigelow academic programming?
- Will special education services change?
- How will METCO be impacted?
- Will the CAPS program stay at Bigelow?
- Does taking a bus after school limit my child’s afterschool extracurricular options?
- What is the projected enrollment by grade level for each option?
- What is the projected enrollment by school over the next five years for each option?
- Why was the “Cabot Split” feeder pattern removed 10 years ago?
- What would happen to the Cabot neighborhood that is North of the Mass Turnpike?
- Why do we need to implement changes now if enrollment will not change significantly over the next few years?
- How long will either of the proposed feeder pattern changes be in effect?
- When will the "Cabot Split" map be finalized and published?
- How do each of these options impact those who may currently live in a designated buffer zone between Bigelow and Day?
- Why can’t all students (current 6th and 7th graders) be moved at once so that the enrollment changes are realized immediately?
- With either option, how many Title 1 schools will feed into Bigelow and how many Title 1 schools will feed into Day?
- How does the bus fee and financial waiver process work?