Data shows a racial demographic divide among Worcester students returning to in-person learning Updated May 03, 2021; A slight demographic divide remains among Worcester Public Schools pre-K-8 students who have opted for in-person learning and those who have opted out, a new briefing from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau reveals. Worcester Public Schools resumed full in-person learning for all pre-K-8 students Monday. Out of the district’s 16,393 students in elementary, middle and alternative programs, 11,329 students, or 69%, opted to return to in-person learning while 4,541 students, or 28%, chose to stay in remote learning. There were 523 families, or 3%, who did not respond. When the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that districts would be required to offer fully in-person instruction for K-5 students by April 5 and for grade 6-8 students by April 28, Worcester applied for and received a waiver to delay its full-time return to May 3 for all pre-K-8 students.