Only 31 Andover eighth-graders chose an alternative to Andover High School for the 2026-27 school year, down from 78 a year ago.

Superintendent Keith Taverna, appointed to the permanent role in June after serving as interim since March, presented the preliminary enrollment figures to the Andover School Committee on Thursday, Sept. 3. He called the opt-out count the lowest in six years.

The drop comes amid long-term growth in Andover private-school enrollment. State data reviewed by Andover News show the number of Andover children in private schools grew from 408 in 2010-11 to 893 in 2025-26.

"That's a significant improvement and the lowest that we've seen over the last six years … I'm so proud that we're having more students choose to attend Andover High and stay with APS," Taverna told the committee.

At the other end of the district, kindergarten enrollment jumped from 350 to 381 students, a gain of nearly 9 percent. Taverna said the increase matches demographic studies that projected Andover Public Schools (APS) enrollment would begin rising among its youngest students.

Overall district enrollment dipped slightly. Some classes entering middle and high school were smaller than the classes they replaced. The group moving from fifth into sixth grade was smaller than the previous sixth-grade class, and the incoming ninth-grade class was smaller than the graduating senior class. APS reported 5,346 students for the 2025-26 school year but did not release an updated total during the Sept. 3 presentation.

The new figures suggest the district retained a greater share of students entering high school, though they do not indicate whether the shift will continue in future years, according to Andover News.

Taverna was appointed superintendent on June 15 after a unanimous School Committee vote, the Andover Townsman reported. He had served as assistant superintendent of administration and finance from 2022 to 2026.

The School Committee's AHS Future Subcommittee meets Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. in Conference Room A at the School Administration Building, 30 Whittier Court. The agenda includes finalizing a new survey.