I am not at all concerned about the long-term survival of the most precious, prestigious, and high-achieving village school in the state.”

Dr. Laurie Dias-Mitchell, Superintendent of Schools

While it may be a cliché to describe a neighborhood school as the heartbeat of a community, one need only listen to those who have close ties to Wilbur & McMahon Schools in Little Compton to understand how accurate the statement is.

A parent of a recent eighth grade graduate describes the school as one of the best in the state.

A resident with deep roots in town shares a family history lesson, explaining how he, along with his father, brother, and children, graduated from the school, and now his grandchildren go there. 

Another graduate, who has lived in town for decades, was recently overheard saying, “I hope nothing ever happens to this school.”

That last sentiment is not uncommon these days, as talk of Little Compton’s exorbitant housing prices inevitably leads residents to wonder what the long-term impact on school enrollment will be — especially if the 60-plus population continues to expand and working families with young children can no longer afford to settle here.

“I’m concerned more people can’t move here right now because the average assessment is over a million dollars,” said Travis Auty, who moved to town with his family in 2017.

Auty, a realtor who has served as chair of the Little Compton School Committee since 2022, is well versed in both the challenges facing potential homeowners as well as enrollment trends at Wilbur & McMahon Schools.

“If you are a working person, and you make under $400,000 a year, and you don’t have the 20 percent down, it’s virtually impossible to attain housing here.”

Despite those concerns, Auty said things are moving in the right direction when it comes to school enrollment, in part because Wilbur & McMahon’s reputation for academic excellence, small class sizes, and forward-thinking initiatives, such as being the only public school with International Baccalaureate (IB) certified World School status in Rhode Island, make it increasingly attractive to non-resident students and their families. 

“I’ve met people whose children came up, for example, through a Montessori school and then went on to a private school at significant cost … and then they chose Wilbur and are pleased with the outcome.”

Encouraging trends

Dr. Laurie Dias-Mitchell, Superintendent of Schools, also points to trends in non-resident enrollment as one reason for her positive outlook on the school’s future. 

“Starting with five non-resident students in the 2017-18 school year, the number has steadily increased every school year, especially during and since the pandemic,” she said. 

Although the number fluctuates daily as the first day of school approaches, Dias-Mitchell said Pre-School through Grade 8 projections for non-resident enrollment range from 30-41 in the coming school year, versus 18 last year, a 67 to 128 percent increase.

These numbers help offset a projected drop in enrollment for in-town residents, from 197 in 2023-24 to 177 in the coming year (-10.2 percent).

Dias-Mitchell says the recent decline in numbers for in-town residents is not alarming in view of ten-year historical trends, noting that enrollment drops of as high as 16 and 18 students have occurred in some years, while no enrollment changes occurred in others.

Additionally, she said a 2022 New England School Development Council report projects a steady increase in the number of in-town resident enrollment beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

In the eight years that Wilbur & McMahon has accepted non-resident students, the tuition rate has remained constant, at $6,000 per student. Towns represented include Tiverton, Portsmouth, Newport, Westport and Fall River.

Dias-Mitchell said non-resident families are drawn to the school for many reasons, including its reputation for academic achievement. The school was No. 1 in 2023 RICA test scores in ELA and Science, and it has a 5-STAR rating – the best accountability score a school can earn – from the RI Dept. of Education.

Asked for her view on how Wilbur & McMahon will fare in future years, given the town’s demographics and housing situation, Dias-Mitchell is upbeat. 

“I am not at all concerned about the long-term survival of the most precious, prestigious, and high-achieving village school in the state,” she said. “With very few exceptions, community leaders, elected officials, and innovative nonprofits are committed to mitigating the effects of rural gentrification and are intensifying their collaborations to offer affordable housing options to emerging families. I have never been more encouraged, actually.”