Novato Unified Board Ended Hamilton Middle Grades
The district voted to close middle school classes at Hamilton School to address significant budgetary deficits.
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-grade programs at Hamilton School. This decision aims to address a portion of the district's $6.5 million budget shortfall.
Why it matters
Declining enrollment and a failed parcel tax measure in June have forced the district to consolidate resources. Officials stated the middle school program is no longer sustainable due to current staffing and class size requirements.
The Hamilton middle school program currently serves 155 students, while San Jose Middle School has a total capacity of 700 with a current enrollment of 579. The district currently employs eight teachers to operate the middle school program at Hamilton.
The players
Novato Unified School District Board
This is the local governing body responsible for overseeing public education and district financial policies within Novato.
Hamilton School
This is the local campus that will discontinue its middle school grade levels.
San Jose Middle School
This is the campus designated to receive the students transferring from the Hamilton middle school program.
The details
Beginning in November, the district will launch a five-month transfer process to move students from Hamilton School to San Jose Middle School. Despite a parent petition that gathered nearly 300 signatures against the closure, the board approved the transition to take effect by fall 2027.
Timeline
June 2026: The district failed to pass a parcel tax measure.
October 6, 2026: The board voted to approve the closure plan.
November 2026: The district begins a five-month student transfer process.
Fall 2027: Middle school grades at Hamilton School will officially discontinue.
2027-28: The budget cycle requiring $6.5 million in cuts begins.
Culture Shift
This move reflects a growing trend of school districts consolidating facilities to address the post-pandemic decline in public school enrollment. The reduction aligns with national efforts by school boards to right-size operations as birth rates and demographic shifts impact classroom sizes.
Families currently enrolled in Hamilton School must participate in the five-month transfer process beginning in November to secure placement at San Jose Middle School. Parents should anticipate changes to their child's daily commute as students move to a new campus.
The takeaway
Families impacted by the transition should review the district transfer schedule to ensure a smooth change in school location for their children. The consolidation illustrates the ongoing budgetary pressure local districts face following the rejection of revenue-generating tax measures.
Further reading
Learn more about local school transitions on the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Marin Independent Journal.
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