Come to Hatfield Elementary or Smith Academy Via The School Choice Program

Did you know that your elementary, middle and/or high school age child can attend Hatfield Public Schools even though he or she lives in a town or city other than Hatfield at no cost to you?   It’s true.  In fact, over 20% of the students enrolled at Smith Academy do not reside in Hatfield.   According to MA Law:

“Not later than the first day of July, each city, town or regional school district shall each year submit a non-resident attendance report to the board and to the state treasurer, certifying the number of non-resident applicants for each available seat in each school, the disposition of their applications, how many of said applicants will be attending the district in the next school year, the identity of the sending districts for those students, the annual amount of tuition for each such child and the total tuition owed to the district based on full or partial attendance, itemized by the amount attributable to each city or town of residence.”

Put more simply, every spring, the Hatfield School Committee determines whether it will accept students through the School Choice Program and the amount of students it will accept at all grade levels.  The tuition being discussed above refers to the money that Hatfield will receive from the sending school district.  Again, families attending Massachusetts public schools through School Choice do not pay tuition.

If you want to apply to become a student at Smith Academy, please fill out the School Choice Application and return it to the address listed on the application.

To read more about the laws governing School Choice in Massachusetts, please go to www.mass.gov.