Students over-enrolled, as described by the District’s planning summary—not a current calculation.
Middle School · space + enrollment
What does the public record show about crowding?
A real space problem is documented. HWRSD reported overcrowding and lost instructional space in 2023, and the 2025 Town Report later described serious problems with the building’s physical size and condition. The present numerical capacity, best solution and complete Cost are not yet established here.
Actual school-level enrollment reported by HWRSD.
Actual public enrollment reported by Massachusetts DESE.
No verified present-day numerical capacity is available for this brief.
What the records establish
Space can be constrained before a current capacity number is available.
| Evidence | Period | Source-reported finding | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building utilization | July 5, 2023 | HWRSD described Wilbraham Middle School as over-enrolled by about 200 students. | A dated planning finding—not a present capacity calculation. |
| Instructional space | July 5, 2023 | Some staff were working from closets, and the library had been completely converted to classroom space. | Documents functional crowding at that time; it does not inventory every current room. |
| Physical size + condition | 2025 report year | The District described serious problems with the building’s physical size and condition and a shift toward the MSBA Core program. | Establishes a continuing building issue—not MSBA acceptance, a selected solution or funding. |
| Actual enrollment | October 1, 2024 | 613 students. | A dated actual—not a capacity measure. |
| Projection compared with actual | Academic year 2025–26 | 614 projected; 610 actual. | The near-term projection was four students above the later actual; neither number measures space adequacy. |
| Table control | Five dated evidence lines. There is no enrollment-plus-capacity total and no current “students over capacity” calculation. | ||
Sources: HWRSD, Planning Committee Community Summary, July 5, 2023; Town of Wilbraham, 2025 Annual Town Report; HWRSD FY2024 Continuing Disclosure; and Massachusetts DESE’s 2025–26 Wilbraham Middle School profile.
What residents can say now
- The District documented overcrowding and repurposed learning/support space in 2023.
- The 2025 Town Report described serious physical-size and condition problems.
- The AY2025–26 projection was close to the later actual enrollment.
- The issue warrants a current, complete comparison of need and options.
What remains unresolved
- Current rated and functional capacity and exact present room use.
- Whether “about 200” remains the correct current scale.
- A preferred building or grade option.
- A current project scope, complete Cost, funding or household effect.
Separate 2021 facility-planning evidence
A dated condition snapshot is not a current project estimate.
| Building | Area | Critical | Non-critical | Deferred | Ten-year inflated projection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilbraham Middle School | 99,750 sq ft | $38,419 | $102,564 | $140,983 | $1,010,638 |
| One-building table total | 99,750 sq ft | $38,419 | $102,564 | $140,983 | $1,010,638 |
Source: EBI Consulting, Capital Needs Assessment, August 23, 2021, with original 2022–2031 planning horizon. The deferred amount equals the critical and non-critical components; the ten-year inflated projection is a different measure and must not be added to deferred maintenance.
The honest answer: The public record establishes a space and condition problem. It does not yet establish the present numerical capacity, the exact current severity, an executable scope, complete Cost or comparable options.
Why Town and District records both matter
The building, service and funding responsibilities cross organizations.
The source describes a one-dollar lease of Wilbraham elementary and middle-school facilities and grounds, renewed July 1, 2015, for a term not exceeding twenty years. The allocation rule says Capital outlay for a leased elementary or middle school is assessed only to the town where that building is located.
Current conclusion: the records establish a real space and condition problem, but they do not establish the present numerical capacity, select an option, establish current project Cost or authorize funding.