It is the time of the year when fifth grade parents are looking at the middle schools and deciding which middle school they would like their child to attend. However, this year, middle school placement will be conducted via lottery, which was approved by the Medford School Committee at the February 11, 2019 meeting.
“We are one Medford, one district. We need to recognize that both middle schools offer our students a quality education. In order to ensure equity for all of our students, a cohort model is being implemented. There will be a lottery and 50% of students will be randomly selected from each elementary school. Half of the students from each elementary school will go to the Andrews and half will go to the McGlynn. Understanding the concerns of parents dropping off and picking up at multiple locations, there will be an accommodation for sibling preference. Additionally, to support the needs of students if there is an educational service requirement only offered at one of the middle schools, those needs would be accommodated for placement as well. Sibling preference would be offered to siblings currently attending the school,” said the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent.
“Tentatively, the middle school lottery will be held sometime in April. Middle School orientations, rather than open houses, will be scheduled for students and parents in May. We intend to keep all parents fully informed of this process as it progresses,” said Vincent.