Dear WPS Community,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! This year, our district theme is One Waltham. Every Story Matters. It reflects a simple but important belief: we are stronger as a community when every student, staff member, and family knows that they belong and that their experiences, perspectives, and voices are valued.
Across Waltham Public Schools, our commitment remains clear: to create learning environments where every student is known, valued, and supported to achieve at the highest levels. That work begins with strong relationships and extends to the high-quality teaching, meaningful opportunities, and academic and social-emotional supports our students experience every day.
As we begin this school year, I am grateful for our educators and staff who have worked incredibly hard to prepare for our students, for our families who entrust us with their children each day, and for the many community partners who continue to support our schools.
Most importantly, I am excited to welcome our students back. Each of you brings something unique to our schools. Your ideas, talents, cultures, experiences, challenges, successes, and aspirations are all part of the story of Waltham Public Schools.
I look forward to all that we will accomplish together this year. Here’s to a wonderful 2026–2027 school year and to continuing to build One Waltham—where every story matters.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marisa Mendonsa
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*September 2nd - 1st day of school for grades 1 -12 (Full Day except regular 1:15pm Wednesday dismissal for WHS and VHS)
September 2nd - School Committee Meeting (617 Lexington Street) @ 7pm
September 4th - No School
September 7th - No School - Labor Day
**September 10th - 1st day of school for Kindergarten and Preschool students
September 16th - School Committee Meeting (617 Lexington Street) @ 7pm
September 21st - No School - Yom Kippur
September 23rd - Early Release Day ~ All District (High Schools - 12pm / Middle Schools - 12:30pm / Elementary Schools - 1pm)
*Watch for Back to School Night info coming soon from your student's school.*
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The Waltham Public Schools District calendar for the 2026 - 2027 school year can be found here.
Additionally, BUS ROUTES for all WPS schools, including late bus routes (for middle and high school students) can be found here.
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We’re excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website!
What you’ll find:
- A mobile-friendly design for easy access on any device
- Streamlined menus and search tools to help you quickly find what you need
- Seamless integration with ParentSquare alerts and posts, making it easier to stay connected and informed
We’re committed to making our communication as clear, accessible, and helpful as possible. Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to refine content and features.
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Now that we’ve been using our new communication system, ParentSquare, for a few months, we encourage all families to take a moment to review their notification settings. Customizing your preferences ensures you receive messages in the way that works best for you.
Choose your preferred notification settings:
- General Announcements & Messages by Email, Text or App and frequency for posts (Off, Instant or Digest) - Digest - You will receive one email and/or one text and/or one app notification providing access to all ParentSquare information at the end of the day
- Instant - You will receive messages when they are sent by the school / district in real time
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If you plan to volunteer for any events at your child's school or chaperone a field trip this year,
please make sure you have been CORI'd and fingerprinted (if needed). If unsure, you can reach out to your child's school secretary to check. CORIs are only valid for 3 school years so if you have not had a CORI check since prior to the '24-'25 school year, you will need to visit your child's school to fill out a new CORI form.
*Please do not wait until the week of your event to complete these requirements. Delays in receiving results from the state's systems could impact your ability to participate in a school field trip / event.
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WPS has again partnered with Shaws to offer free flu clinics to all WPS students and their families this fall.
Date / Time / Location:
--> Friday, September 18th beginning at 3pm at Waltham High School (554 Lexington Street)
--> Tuesday, September 22nd starting at 3pm at McDevitt Middle School (75 Church Street)
--> Thursday, October 15th beginning at 4pm at Whittemore Elementary School (30 Parmenter Road)
Scan the QR code or click the link below to reserve a spot.
Family Clinic Link:
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Waltham School Nutrition is excited to welcome our students back this fall. Breakfast and lunch are FREE again for all of our students for the entire school year. Also, there are no more Free and Reduced meal applications.
Click here to what will be cooking in our kitchens this September.
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GAME SCHEDULES - download Arbiter Live to your phone using the app store/google play.
FIND US ON THE SOCIALS
X - @WHawkSAthletics
Instagram - @WHawkSathletics
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The Waltham Public Schools Fine & Performing Arts Department (FAPA) has a dedicated page where families and community members can stay connected to our vibrant arts programs. Visit: walthampublicschools.org/page/fine-arts
Stay up to date with Fine & Performing Arts events across Waltham Public Schools! This calendar is maintained by the Fine & Performing Arts Department and updated as dates, times, and event details change. Please check back regularly for the most current information about upcoming performances, concerts, exhibitions, and other FAPA events.
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The Waltham Public Schools Music Department offers private after school instrumental and voice lessons for interested students in grades 1–12. Students can study privately on the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, saxophone, flute, trumpet, baritone, tuba, trombone, clarinet, French horn, percussion, electric bass, guitar, piano, ukulele and voice. (Please note that students in grades 1 & 2 are only eligible to study piano or violin. Students in grades 3–12 can study any other instruments except voice and ukulele. (Voice can only be taken in high school and ukulele in middle and high School) . Click on the link below to get more info and to register.
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617 Lexington Street
Office Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm
Vacation / Summer Hours 8:30am-3:30pm
Phone: 781-314-5524 or 781-314-5568 (Spanish)
Did you recently move?
*Change of Address ~
If you have moved within Waltham or need to update the address Waltham Public Schools has on file, you must provide the new address to your child(ren)’s school(s). To complete the update, you will need to provide the school with the following:
Proof of Residency ~
City of Waltham quarterly tax bill -OR-
Copy of Purchase & Sales or Deed for a new home purchase
Current Lease Agreement - Signed & dated within one year -OR-
*Please be aware that changes to your address may result in:
Your child(ren)’s school will provide you with this information and assistance.
If you are experiencing housing instability:
Please contact our McKinney-Vento office by email mkvliaison@walthampublicschools.org or 781-314-5425 to update your address and receive additional assistance. Families identified as McKinney-Vento are not required to change their child's school if they move as under this policy, your child is eligible to remain in their school of origin.
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Children whose parent/legal guardian(s) are living in Waltham may enroll in Kindergarten with the Waltham Public Schools if they have reached 5 years of age on or before September 1, of the new school year.
Families are encouraged to contact our office to be sure your child is on our list of expected students and to obtain the registration information. We look forward to welcoming your child and working with your family throughout the registration process. More information and future updates can be found on the Kindergarten Registration page: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/page/kindergarten-registration-information
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Children whose parents or legal guardians reside in Waltham and will turn 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1st of the new school year are eligible to apply.
Parents are encouraged to apply as there are a limited number of spots still available in both the morning and afternoon programs.
Rolling admission to the morning session of the integrated pre-K program for children turning 3 after September 1st will be offered if space allows.
The Pre-K Application for the 2027-28 school year will be posted October 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
More information including the online applications for all Integrated Pre-K Programs can be found on the Pre-K Programs page:
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The Waltham High School Preschool is opening this September! This preschool program is a new full-day program located at Waltham High School, offering play-based learning in a warm, inclusive environment that supports kindergarten readiness, creativity, collaboration, and social-emotional growth. The program runs from 9:00am-2:30pm and offers 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day programming options for Waltham families with children ages 3 and 4. Through its connection to Waltham High School and Career & Technology Education pathways, students benefit from a unique community-centered learning experience. Families interested in integrated preschool services are encouraged to apply to the district’s Integrated Pre-K Programs.
For more information, including an Interest Form, can be found here:
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Student Work Permit Applications and complete instructions can be found here:
All students residing in Waltham may submit an electronic copy of their completed Massachusetts Employment Permit Application to the Parent Information Center at PIC@walthampublicschools.org. A scanned document or a picture of the completed and signed forms are acceptable. **During the school year, Waltham High School students should turn in their completed application to their house office at the High School.**
All other students, and during the summer, permit applications should be turned into the Parent Information Center at 617 Lexington St.
The completed application forms may also be brought to the main office, or dropped in the gray mailbox by the flagpole, located at the main entrance of 617 Lexington Street.
Please note:
- Applications for students aged 14 or 15 MUST have a doctor's signature.
- Waltham residents who do not attend Waltham Public Schools MUST also provide their Birth Certificate with the completed application.
- The student must be present for the permit to be issued.
- The employer must sign the permit application PRIOR to Waltham Public Schools issuing the permit.
- A NEW permit application is required for each NEW employer.
- Please include your contact information in order for the completed permit to be returned to you, or to be notified that your permit is ready to be picked up.
Application forms are available at the Waltham High School Main Office or can be downloaded using the link below.
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The Waltham Public Library's Teen Room has many wonderful events set to welcome students back this fall. See below for dates, times and activities. |
Waltham Fields Community Farm has educational programs taking place this fall. Get more info by scanning the QR code and looking at the flyers below. |
The Middlesex County 4-H Fifes and Drums is actively recruiting new members who want to learn how to play the fife, snare drum, or bass drum. Composed of youth aged 8 to 18, the corps has performed at Boston’s First Night festivities, Drummer’s Call in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, and Concord’s Patriots’ Day ceremonies. The corps is led by its members, who elect their leaders and determine their events and repertoire each season. We offer music instruction in the fife and drum at weekly practices in Lincoln on Sunday afternoons. For more information, reach out at mc4hfd@gmail.com or mc4hfd.org. |
Welcome to Waltham Public Schools! We serve more than 5,600 students from diverse backgrounds with courses and activities designed to prepare them for success in the 21st Century. Our vision is to provide a world-class education to ALL students by developing their heads, hearts, hands, and voices, and to inspire them to become critical thinkers, problem-solvers, designers, builders, innovators and social entrepreneurs who make contributions to our diverse communities, nation, and global world. We strive to be the first choice of all families in the wonderful #OneWaltham community! |
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