Novato Unified Board Ended Hamilton Middle Grades
The district voted to phase out Hamilton School middle grades, moving 155 students to San Jose Middle School by next fall.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Novato Unified School District Board voted 6-0 to discontinue sixth, seventh, and eighth grades at Hamilton School due to declining enrollment. Affected families will transition students to San Jose Middle School starting this November.
Why it matters
The change follows a failed June parcel tax measure and helps the district address a $6.5 million shortfall in the 2027-28 budget. Officials cited the unsustainable nature of staffing the current program as the primary driver for the reduction.
The board approved the removal of 155 middle school seats at Hamilton School to save the district $700,000. San Jose Middle School will absorb these students, as the campus currently operates with 579 of its 700-student capacity.
The players
Novato Unified School District
The local school authority responsible for managing student enrollment, budget, and academic facilities across Novato schools.
Hamilton School
A district school currently housing middle grades that will shift its focus as the district reduces middle school programs.
San Jose Middle School
The destination school for students transitioning from Hamilton, which maintains capacity to absorb additional student populations.
The details
The district determined that maintaining the middle school program at Hamilton School was no longer sustainable due to specific class size and teacher staffing requirements. To implement this, the district will launch a five-month transfer process for the 155 affected students. San Jose Middle School will accommodate the influx of students using its existing remaining capacity.
Timeline
October 6, 2026: The school board voted to approve the transition plan.
November 2026: The district begins a five-month transfer process for students.
Fall 2027: Middle school grades at Hamilton School will officially discontinue.
The Home Front
This consolidation reflects a broader trend of school districts restructuring facilities to meet strict budget-reduction targets after local funding initiatives fail. The board's decision aligns with efforts to manage school district overhead amidst ongoing enrollment shifts.
Families affected by the transfer process should prepare to participate in the upcoming five-month transition phase starting in November. Monitor district communications for specific enrollment deadlines and orientation schedules at San Jose Middle School.
The takeaway
The consolidation marks a significant change for local families as the district adjusts its infrastructure to address a $6.5 million shortfall. Parents should keep an eye on official district notifications regarding the enrollment transfer timeline starting in November.
Further reading
For more information on school district planning, visit the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Marin Independent Journal.
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