Join us in supporting the Lexington High School building project!

Lexington is currently in the midst of a major project to rebuild its high school. The core buildings of the current high school were built in 1953 (72 years ago). The campus was designed for 1,800 students, but now serves over 2,400. It is severely overcrowded, the facilities are outdated, educational spaces are too small, and the infrastructure is failing. Based on the current schedule, the new high school is expected to open in 2029—meaning today’s preschoolers will attend a brand new school.

Although the project is well underway and continuing to move forward, the most critical step is in Fall 2025: a town-wide debt exclusion vote.

What is a debt exclusion?

A debt exclusion is a way for the town to raise funds to pay for a specific capital project that will be financed by borrowing. It allows the town to temporarily increase property tax revenue beyond a limit set by state statute (known as the levy limit), to pay the annual debt service costs on the borrowing for the project. A debt exclusion requires a town-wide vote and must be approved (vote of YES) by a majority of voters. The state has some great videos and a primer on Proposition 2 1/2.

What happens if the vote doesn't pass?

If the vote doesn’t pass, Lexington will almost certainly lose $100+ million in state funding for the project. The town would need to bring the existing high school up to code—a process estimated to cost ~$300 million that would require a separate debt exclusion vote at a later date.

These upgrades would not resolve the school’s severe overcrowding or bring learning space up to 21st century standards. To address those needs, we would need to do a second project—a major addition—costing hundreds of millions more in addition to what we would already have spent trying to keep the existing inadequate buildings operational. A failed vote would also delay any improvement to current conditions at LHS by at least a few years.

What is Yes for Lexington?

Yes for Lexington (Yes4Lex) supports the passage of a debt exclusion to fund a new LHS. When voters go to the polls this fall, Yes4Lex wants people to vote YES!

What do I need to do?

Yes4Lex needs our support! The passage of this vote is not guaranteed—it will take a collective effort to get it across the finish line. The easiest way to start helping is by endorsing the campaign and encouraging your friends and neighbors to do the same.

There are also many ways to volunteer—sending postcards, displaying a lawn sign, hosting a coffee, and more. Don’t forget to sign up for the Yes4Lex email newsletter to stay up to date on campaign news and opportunities to get involved.

And of course, come the fall, make sure you VOTE!

Where can I find out more?

There is no shortage of information about the high school project! If you would like to learn more, please visit the High School Building Project website, and the Yes4Lex website.