John D. O'Bryant School wins national prize for Advanced Placement

ROXBURY - The John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is one of 12 high schools throughout the country to be named a winner of a 2003 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement.

The prize is presented annually by the College Board and the Siemens Foundation to two schools in each of the six College Board regions. One of the prizes in each region - including the prize awarded to the O'Bryant - is presented to a school which provides access to Advanced Placement math and science programs to a substantially under-represented minority student population. The school will receive $1,000 and a plaque commemorating this distinction.

"We are proud and honored that the O'Bryant has been recognized with this award," said Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant. "Boston schools are committed to closing the racial achievement gap, and increasing participation among students of color in Advanced Placement programs is an important strategy toward meeting this goal."

Headmaster Jose Vidot noted that the school's selection was in part the result of the O'Bryant more than doubling the number of Black and Hispanic students enrolled in the AP program in just two years: from 36 in school year 2000-2001 to 77 last year.

Mr. Vidot said, "We attribute our success to the commitment of our students to a first class education as well as the encouragement of their teachers and counselors, parents, university partners, and the business community.

The John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is one of three "exam schools" in the Boston Public Schools, serving students in grades 7 through 12.

For more information about the award:
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/apawards/default.html

For more information about the Boston Public Schools:
www.bostonpublicschools.org