More Homes Do Not Mean More Crowded Schools

In suburban Boston, a commonly accepted truth is that more homes in a town equates to more kids in the schools. That assumption may not be true, according to a new study from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

The Council studied enrollment data for 234 school districts across the state and found no correlation between growth in the number of housing units and growth in the number of students in public and charter schools. The Boston Globe reports that most towns in the state have aging populations and relatively stable home prices. These towns may have added some housing but few if any students. They have seen baby boomers’ children age out of schools, while younger families have been slow to move in.

“There is little real connection between housing growth and student growth,” said Marc Draisen, the MAPC’s executive director. “Yet impact on schools is one of the biggest arguments we hear against new housing in many communities.”

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