BPS Marks the End of the 2024-2025 School Year

Today marks the final day of the 2024-2025 School Year for Boston Public Schools. As students, families and staff head into a well-deserved and restful summer break, now is also a time to reflect on and celebrate the successes of the past year.

BPS Marks the End of the 2024-2025 School Year

Monday, June 23, 2025 – Today marks the final day of the 2024-2025 School Year for Boston Public Schools. As students, families and staff head into a well-deserved and restful summer break, now is also a time to reflect on and celebrate the successes of the past year.

The school year has been filled with numerous examples of students flourishing across BPS schools and in the community. Students from 17 BPS high schools shined during the prestigious Aspen Challenge competition. They showed off their artistic skills at the Citywide Arts Festival, which saw the largest number of student participants ever. Students performed in front of crowds from Carnegie Hall to Fenway Park. BPS athletes made deep runs into the state playoffs. This year’s cohort of graduates are moving on to careers and post-secondary education to pursue their life goals.

“I see our students come to school ready to learn and rise to challenges," said BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper. “I hear their stories and bring them to my conversations with leaders across the city to advocate for the resources we need to help our students succeed and achieve their dreams.”

BPS staff members won numerous awards this past school year. Luisa Sparrow from the Perry School was named 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year; Maya Smith at Fenway High School was named 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year; and Sugeily Santos from the Curley K-8 School was named both 2024 BPS and Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year.

Several BPS schools also received local, statewide and national recognitions:

Curley K-8 School and the Mattahunt Elementary School named “National Banner Schools” by Special Olympics USA for their work supporting our students with disabilities
Bradley Elementary School named a “National Distinguished School” for excellence in serving special populations of students
O’Donnell Elementary School recognized by Gov. Maura Healey and the Boston Celtics and others for reducing chronic absenteeism
Mattapan’s Mattahunt Elementary School received the $100,000 School on the Move prize from EdVestors in October.

BPS also made significant operational improvements across the district to create a foundation that is helping to improve academic systems and structures to ensure that students receive the highest quality educational experience.

More highlights from the 2024-2025 School Year in BPS:

BPS hosted the Aspen Challenge where 17 high school teams competed to present solutions to social issues facing students. Teams from Margarita Muñiz Academy, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers and Excel High School will travel to Aspen, CO to share their solutions on a national stage in June.
More than 90 Boston-area CEOs visited our schools for Principal Partners to understand the role of a Principal and the impact that a Principal can have on our students.
Boston Arts Academy’s Treble Allstars performed the National Anthem at Red Sox opening Day.
More than 300 pieces of student artwork were on display at Boston City Hall as part of showcasing our students’ incredible gifts.
Lang-Lang International Music Foundation Keys of Inspiration Program donates 25 pianos to Mario Umana Dual Language Academy.
Holmes School student Miguel Gonzalez was recognized by Mayor Wu during the 2025 State of the City Address, where she announced that BPS will be implementing advanced math programs inside our schools. Partnering with the Young People’s Project and the Calculus Project, we are launching math clubs, competitions, and advanced math communities so all of our students are empowered to take advanced math courses and understand that is where they belong.
Curley student Mendez Pierre performed his original piano piece entitled “Dream,” as part of the opening ceremony of Mayor Wu’s 2025 State of the City Address.
Boston Public Schools launches new website to highlight engaging stories about the work happening across BPS every day, and which features a redesigned navigation to make finding information easier
Curley K-8 School and the Mattahunt Elementary School named “National Banner Schools” by Special Olympics USA for their work supporting our students with disabilities
Bradley Elementary School named a “National Distinguished School” for excellence in serving special populations of students
Luisa Sparrow from the Perry School named 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
Maya Smith, Associate Head of School at Fenway High School, named 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year.
Sugeily Santos from the Curley K-8 School named both 2024 BPS and Massachusetts School Counselor of the Year.
O’Donnell Elementary School recognized by Gov. Maura Healey, Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, Acting DESE Commissioner Russell Johnston, Boston Celtics and others for reducing chronic absenteeism
Mattapan’s Mattahunt Elementary School received the $100,000 School on the Move prize from EdVestors in October.
TechBoston Academy Football Coach Raul Brown named New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Blackstone Elementary School is adopted as part of the New England Patriots Foundations “Adopt a School” program, focused on student attendance, and equitable literacy initiatives.
BPS students in K0, K1, K2, Grades 7 and 9 have the opportunity to learn in inclusive classrooms.
BPS expands programming for our multilingual learners, with nine new programs coming online for the 2025-2026 school year.
BPS Helpline fielded over 31,000 calls in seven of the major BPS languages, in addition to over 3,000 email and 200 walk requests for support during the 2024-2025 school year.
BPS partnered with ParentSquare, a district-wide communications system that allows for better communications with our students, families and staff.

BPS also advanced our vision for a High-Quality Student Experience by completing large construction projects that benefit our students:

The Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing moved into the renovated Edwards building in Charlestown, and the Warren-Prescott School expanded their Kindergarten programming.
We opened the brand new state-of-the-art Josiah Quincy Upper School building.
Ruth Batson Academy became our first University-assisted Community Hub School with UMASS Boston and was selected to move into the next phase of their application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), a significant step in updating the school’s facilities
The Shaw-Taylor School community came together this year as one unified school community, and is deep in the MSBA process for a new school building.
Boston Adult Technical Academy (BATA) celebrated the ribbon cutting of their East Boston campus.
The new building for the William Carter School is on track to open for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.
The Philbrick and Sumner School communities are coming together as the Sarah Roberts Elementary School at the former Washington Irving Middle School building, which is on-track to open for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.
The Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School received a multi-million dollar investment into modernization and accessibility upgrades on track to be completed by the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.

School’s Out, but Have a Question?
Summer Contacts and Resources

BPS school buildings are closed from Tuesday, July 1 – Tuesday, September 2.

Boston Public Schools is ready to help families with questions over the summer. Below is information about how students and families can reach BPS offices during the summer months, as well as key dates for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

BPS Helpline

The BPS Helpline is open all summer and is an excellent resource for students and families.

Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The Helpline can be reached at 617-635-8873 or via email at helpline@bostonpublicschools.org.

The Helpline can provide families with support in the following areas over the summer

Summer Program Registration Support

Work Permit Requests

Office of Specialized Services Evaluation Request Support

Technical Support

Summer Meals

BPS is excited to offer free summer meals (breakfast and lunch) to all kids and teens, ages 18 and under, at more than 100 locations across the City of Boston. No identification or pre-registration is required.

The following Summer Meal sites are open to the public beginning Tuesday, July 8 - Friday, August 8:

Breakfast & Lunch - Sites and Hours

Breakfast & Lunch - Sites and Hours

Blackstone Elementary School (South End)
- Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Ellison-Parks Early Education School (Mattapan)
- Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Gardner Pilot Academy (Allston/Brighton)
- Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Grew Elementary School (Hyde Park)
- Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 12:00 p.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Higginson-Lewis K-8 School (Roxbury)
- Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 1:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
McKay K-8 School (East Boston)
- Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 1:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Up Academy Holland (Dorchester)
- Breakfast - 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
- Lunch - 1:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Welcome Services

The Roxbury Welcome Center will be open to the public on the following days effective Monday, June 30 - Friday, August 1:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The following BPS Welcome Centers will be closed for the summer beginning Monday, June 30 - Friday, August 1, and will reopen on Monday, August 4:

East Boston Welcome Center
Dorchester Welcome Center
Hyde Park Welcome Center

Families can complete the registration process online through the Great Starts platform. Please email welcomeservices@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.

Find downloadable information available below:

Kindergarten Days at Boston Public Library

Kindergarten-Days (“K Days”) are a special collaboration between Countdown to Kindergarten and the Boston Public Library, designed for families with children entering kindergarten for the first time in Boston Public Schools.

The K Days take place at most Boston Library branches around the city, and families are encouraged to attend the location that works better for them.

Downloadable calendars available below:

Find additional information about these activities at countdowntokindergarten.org

Transportation

Summer Operations

The Transportation Department will be available during the summer to support families with questions. BPS families can contact the Transportation Hotline at 617-635-9520 Monday - Friday from 7:00am - 5:00pm.
Transportation will be providing yellow bus service to students attending Extended School Year (ESY) programming, organized by the Office of Specialized Services (OSS).

MBTA M7 Passes

All BPS students in grades 7 through 12 will be able to utilize their MBTA M7 passes through August 31 to ride MBTA trains, buses, and the Commuter Rail at free or reduced fares.
If a student requires a replacement pass, a parent or guardian can contact the Transportation Department at 617-635-9520 or submit a request through our support portal to schedule an appointment for pickup, while supplies last. Please note that parents will need to present a valid ID when picking up the replacement pass.
New MBTA M7 passes will be available for BPS students starting on the first day of school, which is Thursday, September 4.

Athletics

2025 Fall Start Dates

2025 Fall Start Dates - These dates are for MIAA Interscholastic sports.
Please note that some schools and sports may start at a later date. Please confirm with the Athletics Department and/or your student’s school in advance.

Friday, August 15
- Football
Monday, August 18
- Girls Soccer
- Boys Soccer
- Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Cheerleading
- Girls Swimming (Boston Latin School)
- Boys Golf (Boston Latin School)

Eligibility

BPS students must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.67 or higher to participate in Athletics.
- Please Note: Schools may choose to have a higher GPA for athletic participation.
Students must pass four (4) core classes.
Students are required to have a school attendance rate of 90% or higher, in alignment with current BPS Attendance Policy.
A physical examination completed within the last 13 months stating that the student-athlete is or is not cleared for athletics that does not expire before the end of the season, with sports clearance from the athletic trainer and school nurse.
Students who turn 19 before September 1 of the current academic year are ineligible unless an age waiver is granted by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

Sports Interest/Registration:

Athletic Physicals

Massachusetts State Law and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) requires students to have a valid physical or pre-participation examination (PPE) completed within the last 13 months to be eligible to participate. This must include a healthcare provider's signature (can be an electronic signature), date, date of the exam, and include a statement that they are medically clear or eligible to participate in athletics/sports.

Contact/Questions

Physicals / Athletic Training: Please send an email, including a copy of the physical, to bpsathleticphysical@bostonpublicschools.org and include the student’s ID number, school, season, and sport. The athletic trainers will share all physicals they receive with the school nurses.

General Athletic Questions: Please email athletics@bostonpublicschools.org or call 617-635-8143.

Mental Health Resources

Throughout the summer, the BPS social workers are available to support students and families Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Should any students or families need any mental health support over the summer, some resources are listed below. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

Call or email the BPS Helpline at 617-635-8873 at helpline@bostonpublicschools.org. The Helpline is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and can connect students with a social worker.
Call or text the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline at 833-773-2445. A 24- hour a day hotline that can connect students and families with Mental Health Clinicians who can provide clinical guidance and can direct students and families to resources. Interpretation is available for students and families in over 200+ languages.

Additional summer mental health resources can be found in the informational sheets linked here.

School’s Out, but Have a Question? Summer Contacts and Resources

Summer Operations

MBTA M7 Passes

School’s Out, but Have a Question?
Summer Contacts and Resources