Elementary Placements - Fall, 2020

April 16, 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Sanford School Department’s massive construction and renovation plan is scheduled to be completed for the fall of 2021.  This means Sanford will have three elementary schools for grades pre-kindergarten through four, with projected enrollments of approximately 450 students each.  Carl J. Lamb School, Margaret Chase Smith School and the converted elementary school (current junior high school) will provide consistency and equity in curriculum, staffing, and facilities.

BUT – we are not there yet; the upcoming 2020/2021 school year will be a transition year.  Lafayette School is scheduled to close this June just as construction begins on what will be a converted elementary school at the former Sanford Junior High School.  Margaret Chase Smith School is also expected to re-open next year. Placement for Sanford’s elementary students for the upcoming school year will be as follows:

            Carl J. Lamb Elementary School-K-4

            Margaret Chase Smith School-K-4

            Willard School-1-4 (Moving to Converted Elementary School in Fall 2021)

We recently conducted a review of our current student population and found that there has been a decline in the number of students living in the center of Sanford as well as an increase in the number of students living in South Sanford.  Using this information and current enrollment projections, we reconfigured our existing school zones to achieve the following goals:

  • Keeping siblings together when possible and programming allows
  • Balancing class sizes and profiles
  • Placing students at the school closest to his/her residence based on home address
  • Special education programming needs

In May, school principals will mail letters to all families regarding their child’s school placement for September 2020.  We will honor daycare requests as long as transportation is not impacted; additional requests will be considered on an individual basis.  More information about submitting special requests will be included in the placement letters in May.   

The elementary administrative team would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we make this transition.  We look forward to seeing students and families soon!

Sincerely,

Matt Nelson - Superintendent