Special Olympics Awards Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner

Special Olympics Massachusetts recently honored four Boston Public Schools with National Banner recognition for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities.

Special Olympics Honors Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner Recognition

BPS has four of only 17 schools in Massachusetts and 217 schools nationwide to achieve the status of National Banner School for the 2024-2025 school year.

BOSTON - DECEMBER 19, 2025- Special Olympics Massachusetts recently named Brighton High School, Mario Umana Academy, Trotter Elementary, and the Warren Prescott K-8 School as National Banner schools for their efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities. The four schools earned this distinguished status as a result of meeting 10 national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from the Special Olympics and the education community.

"We are incredibly proud that four Boston Public Schools have been recognized as National Banner Unified Champion Schools," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. "This honor reflects our district's and schools’ commitment to creating inclusive environments where every student of all abilities can participate, lead, and thrive. Through programs like Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement, we move closer to building a more inclusive future across all of our schools."

The Unified Champion Schools® model is a strategy for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without disabilities to create accepting school environments, utilizing three interconnected components: Unified Sports; inclusive youth leadership; and whole-school engagement. As many as 16 million young people are taking part in inclusive experiences through Special Olympics. National Banner Unified Champion Schools also demonstrate they are self-sustainable or have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

"At Warren Prescott, our students are at the center of everything we do and our school community works diligently every day to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to connect, lead, and learn alongside their peers of all abilities," said Principal Michele Davis, Warren-Prescott K-8 School. "Our collaborative efforts are grounded in this vision, allowing students to engage meaningfully with each other and helping build a school culture rooted in equity, respect, and inclusion."

Since October 2023, Boston Public Schools (BPS) has been implementing its landmark Inclusive Education Plan for the Boston Public Schools. The plan outlines systemic changes across all BPS divisions to close opportunity gaps and give every student access to rigorous and culturally affirming instruction. This Inclusive Education Plan will transform learning outcomes for all students, upholding the right of every student to be educated in the least-restrictive environment.

"Trotter Elementary celebrates the power of inclusion every day. Our students participate in Unified Sports and school-wide activities that foster understanding, leadership, and friendship across all abilities," said Principal Sarita Thomas, Trotter Elementary School. "Being named a National Banner School emphasizes our commitment to creating a learning environment where all students can thrive socially and academically."

Brighton High School has made history by becoming the first secondary school in Boston Public Schools to earn Special Olympics National Banner recognition. This achievement showcases the school’s commitment to creating an inclusive community where students of all abilities can fully participate in sports, leadership activities, and school life. With its unified sports programs and strong culture of belonging, Brighton sets a great example of what it means to achieve inclusive excellence at the high school level.

"At Brighton High School, our students are at the forefront of creating a community where everyone feels seen, supported, and included," said Principal Andrew Bott, Brighton High School. "This recognition highlights their dedication to uplifting one another, fostering strong friendships, and making our school a welcoming environment for all. We are incredibly proud of the leadership and compassion our students demonstrate every day, which has earned us the Special Olympics National Banner."

Photo: Piano Lab Ribbon Cutting at Umana Academy, 2025.

“This achievement reflects the power of inclusion, teamwork, and community. At the Umana, every student deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated, and earning the National Banner recognition affirms that belief,” said Principal Akua-Nia Francillon, Mario Umana Academy. “I am proud of our school, grateful for our dedicated educators, and inspired by our amazing young people who make the Umana a place where belonging and brilliance are lived every day.”

The Unified Champion Schools® model is supported by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. This model has been proven, through research, to be an effective and replicable means to providing students with and without disabilities the opportunity to form positive social relationships and promote a socially inclusive school climate.

← Back to the Newsroom

Newsroom

← Back To Communications

Latest News

State Names Six Boston Public Schools as Schools of Recognition

Boston Public Schools is proud to share that six schools have been named Schools of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), part of a statewide group of 63 schools being honored for their academic progress.

Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf School Leader Makes History, Impact In BPS (opens in new window/tab)

Horace Mann Hadn't Had A Deaf School Leader In 151 Years Before Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith Became Principal

Special Olympics Awards Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner

Suffolk Announces Free Tuition Program for Eligible Boston Students (opens in new window/tab)

Suffolk University will offer full tuition coverage to Boston Public School and Boston Charter School students with family incomes of $75,000 or less.

BPS Ensures Every Student, Family, and Staff Member Has Mental Health Care

New landmark partnership with Cartwheel, The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health (BCCMH), and Boston Public Schools ensures timely, multilingual mental health services for students, families, caregivers, and educators.

BPS Celebrates Superintendent Mary Skipper as 2026 Pinnacle Award Honoree

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network selected Superintendent Mary Skipper as one of the 2026 Pinnacle Awards honorees.

Announcements

State Names Six Boston Public Schools as Schools of Recognition

Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf School Leader Makes History, Impact In BPS (opens in new window/tab)

Horace Mann Hadn't Had A Deaf School Leader In 151 Years Before Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith Became Principal

BPS Celebrates Superintendent Mary Skipper as 2026 Pinnacle Award Honoree

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women's Network selected Superintendent Mary Skipper as one of the 2026 Pinnacle Awards honorees.

Boston Public Schools' Food Service Program Earns National Recognition

Boston Public Schools’ (BPS) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has earned Good Food Leader: Silver status from the Center for Good Food Purchasing.

BPS students and staff cutting red ribbon

Boston Public Schools Launches NExT Program to Support Postsecondary Students with Disabilities

Boston Public Schools (BPS) launched the Navigating Employment and Transition (NExT) program to provide additional support to postsecondary young adults with disabilities. The NExT program focuses on teaching essential life skills, including how to navigate the community independently, explore community-based employment opportunities, and participate in recreation activities.

Boston Public Schools Celebrates 2025 Valedictorians

Get to know the 33 Boston Public Schools seniors graduating at the top of their class and representing 32 high schools across the district.

Athletics

Events

Special Olympics Awards Four Boston Public Schools with National Banner

EdVestors Awards $100,000 to East Boston’s Bradley Elementary School

Bradley Elementary School is recognized for its commitment to high-impact instructional strategies, teacher collaboration, and an inclusive, welcoming environment.

Classroom of students and teachers stand together and smile at camera

Boston Public Schools Hosts First-Ever Boston Reads Day

Over 400 volunteer readers joined BPS classrooms as part of City of Boston’s new citywide literacy campaign.

Students and faculty standing on stage, with three children holding scissors next to long ribbon

BPS and City of Boston Sarah Roberts Elementary School Ribbon Cutting

New school building opened for 2025-2026 school year, following $90.9 million investment. The Sarah Roberts Elementary School is a new PreK-6 school created through the merger of the former Philbrick and Sumner school communities.

Mayor Wu, Superintendent Skipper, and Treasurer Goldberg Cut Ribbon on William E. Carter School

The Carter School is a national model for high-quality education designed for students with significant disabilities and complex medical needs. With the new facility, the Carter School was able to expand its enrollment from 25 to 60 students, including the addition of an early childhood program.

Boston Public Schools Students Shine at Annual Citywide Arts Festival

Students from across 23 schools come together for celebration of Visual and Performing Arts.

Videos

Boston Public Schools, Boston Police Department Celebrate School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day!

Sugeily Santos Makes Boston Public Schools Proud As 2025 Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year!

Sarah Roberts’ Descendents Commit To Teaching Boston Public Schools Students Her Story

Teacher Heidy Barreiro Credits BPS Teacher-Training Programs For Success In First-Year

Boston Public Schools Students Bring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Message To Life Through the Arts

Boston Public Schools Students Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy

Watch Charlestown High School take on Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown and DDG!

Horace Mann School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing’s First Deaf Principal Makes History In Boston