Little Compton invites neighbors to enroll in its K-8 school

Linda Borg, The Providence Journal
·2 min read

LITTLE COMPTON – Facing declining enrollments, the school district is inviting students from other cities and towns to enroll at its kindergarten through grade 8 school.

Five years ago, Wilbur & McMahon School opened its doors to out-of-district tuition students. This fall, 10 families from outside Little Compton have decided to enroll.

“Throughout the state, due to changing demographics/birth rates, enrollments are declining. We’re always looking for ways to proactively boost our numbers and what better way than to open our doors to students from neighboring communities,” said Supt. Laurie Dias-Mitchell.

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Wilbur & McMahon School offers an International Baccalaureate Program

Dias-Mitchell said the McMahon School, with small class sizes and a remodeled school campus in a rural setting, has become an option to many.

Annual tuition is $6,000.

In June, the school also received approval to move into the final phase for becoming an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. The program encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.

“With this validation, it means Wilbur & McMahon School is the only public middle school in the state of Rhode Island to offer an International Baccalaureate Program that is recognized around the world,” Dias-Mitchell said.

In addition to the full-time K-8 program, Wilbur & McMahon School also has a half-day, pre-school program run four days a week by the Newport County Regional Special Education Program for students ages 3, 4 and 5 .

For further information, call Heather Fitzgerald at (401) 592-0363 ext. 1002 or hfitzgerald@lcsd.k12.ri.us.

Linda Borg covers education for The Journal.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Little Compton RI invites other towns to enroll in its K-8 school