As a potential new Lexington High School (LHS) continues to be discussed and planned, confusion may arise with it. Based on a survey conducted among Chinese residents of Lexington, this infographic addresses some of the most frequently asked questions by residents.

Where is the project now?

The LHS Building Project is currently still in the designing process, and has yet to be approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) which has offered to subsidize $100M for the new school’s building cost.

The design process involves evaluating existing conditions, setting up guidelines for the construction design, brainstorming the most cost-effective solutions, and more.

Once the design is approved by the MSBA, the project moves on to the next phase where a more detailed scope, which includes budget and schedule, is decided.

How does the project impact tax payers?

The expected impact on taxpayers is a 10-14% increase on property taxes annually, depending on the value of your home.

The total currently estimated $648M price tag of the school is partially offset by the MSBA funding ($100M) and other state/federal funding (~$40M), which will bring the cost paid directly by Lexington down to ~$508M.

However, a growing Capital Stabilization Fund (CSF) set up by the town has already accumulated ~$32M in the past few years and is expected to reach $40M. This is another method that will hopefully ease the tax-burden on residents.

How will the new school accommodate growing enrollment?

While Bloom is officially built for 2400 students (about the student population of the current LHS), it can accommodate up to 3000 students since the Central Office that will be built alongside the new school can be converted into classrooms.

However, it’s unlikely that enrollment will ever reach that high, and if it does, the town might have a whole separate issue on their hand of having too many students in general.