Showcase of Schools

BOSTON - The Boston Public Schools has scheduled the annual showcase of schools for January, but with a twist this year. In an effort to make the process more streamlined and accessible for parents and students, there will be four separate showcases: one for the high schools and one in each of the three zones for the elementary and middle schools.

In years past, there was one single showcase for all schools at one location. By separating the school levels and scheduling the showcases by zone, the school department hopes that more parents will be able to attend.

The schedule for this year is as follows:

High School Showcase - Wednesday, January 8, 2003, 6:00 pm - 8: 30 pm
Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, 55 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury

Elementary/Middle School Showcases - Thursday, January 9, 2003, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
North Zone: Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, 75 Malcolm X Boulevard, Roxbury
East Zone: McCormack Middle School, 315 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester
West Zone: English High School, 144 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain

Representatives from each of the school will be on hand at the showcases to pass out information about their schools as well as to answer questions that parents and students may have.

School registration begins on Tuesday, January 7 for Kindergarten and grades 1, 6 and 9 and lasts through February 4. School officials caution prospective parents that there is no advantage to registering on the first day as long as they complete the process by February 4.

For more information on the Boston Public Schools, please visit one of the three Family Resource Centers listed below.

EAST ZONE Family Resource Center
1216 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617-635-8015

NORTH ZONE Family Resource Center
75 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury
617-635-9010

WEST ZONE Family Resource Center
515 Hyde Park Avenue, Roslindale
617-635-8040

The school district is broken into three geographic zones: North, East and West. The North Zone covers Allston, Brighton, Back Bay, Charlestown, Downtown, East Boston, Mission Hill and the South End. The East Zone covers Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan and South Boston. The West Zone covers Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Roxbury and West Roxbury. Students are assigned to schools in their zone of residence, based on choice and availability of seats. All high schools are citywide. The 1999 plan sets aside 50% of a school's seats for walkers and gives priority for remaining seats to applicants who do not live in the "walk zone" of any school.

In addition to the regularly scheduled Showcase of Schools, a special showcase has been scheduled for the small schools and Pilot schools. If, after attending the regular showcase, parents want more information on one of these schools, they can attend the Small Schools/Pilot School Showcase on Tuesday, January 14 from 5:30 pm - 8 pm.