The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools announced today a phased plan to move fifth graders to the five elementary schools, starting with Brunner Elementary School in the 2026-2027 school year. This strategic adjustment addresses an unprecedented enrollment surge while ensuring the district continues to deliver high-quality education for all students.

The current fourth-grade class is the largest the district has seen in at least 20 years. As a result, the district’s two middle schools, Nettingham and Terrill, which serve grades 5-8, do not have adequate space to accommodate the entire class.

At Nettingham Middle School in particular, the incoming fifth-grade class is projected to be 284 students, well above the school’s typical class size of approximately 220 students. The increase requires six additional classrooms – space that the existing building does not have.

Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast said that the current fourth-grade class will remain at Brunner Elementary School for fifth grade next school year. School One and Evergreen Elementary fifth-grade students will continue to attend Nettingham Middle School, while Coles and McGinn Elementary fifth-grade students will continue to attend Terrill Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year.

Looking ahead, the district will take a phased approach to eventually have all five elementary schools maintain their fifth-grade classes.

“The plan at Brunner Elementary gives us an opportunity to evaluate a future model for our district,” Mast said. “The long-term plan will be to sequentially evaluate our ability to keep fifth-grade students in their elementary schools across the district. These changes are being made thoughtfully and responsibly, guided by our district’s mission to ensure academic excellence for all students.”

La Grande Elementary School Update

The district has been working to address rising enrollment for years. An initial referendum, which would have provided district-wide capacity to address the enrollment surge, did not pass in September 2024. The district then refocused its effort based on community feedback and passed a revised referendum in January 2025, enabling the purchase of La Grande Elementary School in Fanwood.

With renovations underway, La Grande will open at the start of the 2026-2027 school year for all nine of the district’s pre-school classes. 

“This decision provides a long-term solution that will benefit our youngest learners,” Mast said. “This move achieves two critical goals: It provides a dedicated, specialized school for our pre-school program, and it immediately frees up space within our current elementary school buildings.”

Long-Term Enrollment Management

Still, even with long-term flexibility from La Grande Elementary School, the district must confront immediate space constraints at the middle schools.

The administrative team is currently planning the scheduling and resources to ensure that the fifth-grade students remaining at Brunner Elementary will have the same educational opportunities, access to specialists, curriculum, and resources as their peers attending fifth grade at Nettingham Middle School. 

“Our priority is to ensure a seamless and equitable experience for every student during this transitional year,” Mast said.

 The district’s plan to shift fifth-grade classes to all the elementary schools will remain dynamic and flexible to respond to emerging enrollment needs.

“Enrollment is expected to continue increasing at both Nettingham and Terrill in the next five years,” Mast said. “This phased approach ensures that all students continue to learn in safe and appropriate environments.”

The district will hold a Community Information Session on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Terrill Middle School Auditorium to provide details about this plan and to answer questions. All community members are invited.