Old Rochester to welcome Acushnet students this fall

MATTAPOISETT — About 30 Acushnet students will join the freshman class of Old Rochester Regional High School thanks to a deal between the two districts reached earlier this year.

With a typical class size of about 150 students, these new students will increase the ninth grade population by about 20% and the move could eventually bring over 100 Acushnet students throughout all four grades each year and additional revenue to the school.  

Acushnet does not have its own public high school, so it has historically sent students to Old Colony Regional Vocational, Fairhaven and New Bedford high schools. Through a new deal finalized March 26, it will now send a portion of the 108 students in the district who are moving up to high school this year to Old Rochester as well. 

As part of this deal, Old Rochester will recieve $10,000 per Acushnet student in the first year of the contract, along with additional tuition fees for special education services. The Acushnet district will be responsible for transporting students to the school and any other costs related to its resident students.

Students can also attend other area schools through the state’s school choice program. 

Some students from other districts already attend Old Rochester through school choice, which allows students to attend a public school in a district other than their own if there are seats open.  However, this deal will bring a larger number of Acushnet students to the school. 

A previous tuition deal between the Acushnet district and Fairhaven and New Bedford high schools expired at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. 

The Acushnet School Committee explored deals with these schools, along with Old Rochester and Freetown-Lakeville school districts, when choosing where to send this year’s students. 

Old Rochester Superintendent Michael Nelson said he is excited to grow the partnership between Acushnet and Old Rochester in the years to come, and the tuition deal could also provide funding for projects the school's current budget cannot support. He said the high school anticipates the additional income funding additional educational initatives and building projects. 

“It is a great opportunity for Acushnet students, and it will only make our school community stronger,” he said. 

The superintendent said the school plans to ensure every student feels welcomed “no matter if they live in the Tri-Town or not.”