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Boston Public Schools has indicated that it does not believe there is a need for a new public school at Jackson Mann.

A survey released by the City of Boston wrote, “It is BPS’s position that keeping the Jackson Mann site for a future school is not necessary to meet the needs of Allston-Brighton students, and that investments would go further elsewhere in the neighborhood.”

Both city and elected officials had previously speculated that BPS may cede its partial ownership of the Jackson Mann to the city, but this marks the first time that the school district has publicly taken a stance on its intentions with the site.

During a meeting held on Wednesday, BPS Chief of Capital Planning Delavern Stanislaus reported that the neighborhood has seen a decline in the number of students enrolled in BPS. Over the past decade, enrollment for BPS students living in Allston-Brighton decreased by 5.5% and 4.7% for elementary and high schools respectively. 

Stanislaus says that these enrollment declines are “on par with other neighborhoods in the city.” Across the city, she cites factors, such as low birth rates and federal immigration policy as drivers of the decline. 

On the other hand, Allston-Brighton has seen a modest increase in the number of children aged zero to four in the neighborhood whereas the city has reported an overall decrease.

Still, Stanislaus says that “the projected increase is modest and does not currently indicate a need to open additional seats.” She points to the gap between filled and total seats in Allston-Brighton schools: 44% of the secondary school seats and 18% of the elementary school seats were vacant. 

Stanislaus said that the district will continue to invest in Brighton High School through auditorium repairs, boiler replacement and other updates. 

However, the decision does not mean BPS will not open a new school elsewhere in the neighborhood. In fact, BPS has previously committed to opening a pre-K-6 elementary school in Allston-Brighton, though the process is not likely to start until summer 2027 at the earliest. During Wednesday’s meeting, Stanislaus said that one such option would be the Taft Building, which will be vacated by Boston Green Academy in the school year 2028-2029. 

Residents have the opportunity to comment on the need for a school at Jackson Mann in a survey released during Wednesday’s public meeting.