Boston Public Schools District Calendar

As part of its ongoing effort to strengthen college and career pathways in the city’s secondary schools, BPS continues to expand its AP program creating enhanced learning opportunities for students.

Advancing Success: BPS Student Enrollment and Achievement in Advanced Placement Courses on the Rise

Over the past 15 years, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) has steadily increased its Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings, providing high school students with more access to college-level coursework and academic rigor. As part of its ongoing effort to strengthen college and career pathways in the city’s secondary schools, BPS continues to expand its AP program creating enhanced learning opportunities for students.

“Our students are eager to challenge themselves as they prepare for college and career,” said BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper. “This is reflected in the growth and popularity of our AP courses. Students will stretch themselves academically by enrolling in AP classes if they have the opportunity.”

This week Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper joined 13 students at Dorchester’s TechBoston Academy for a roundtable discussion where highly accomplished students shared their experiences in their school’s AP classes.

Students described the life skills they have developed since taking AP classes that extend beyond the classroom like self-discipline, time management, resilience, flexibility, and self-confidence. They encouraged fellow students to discover new strengths by enrolling in AP courses that might not initially interest them, noting the availability of support from teachers and peers. As one student said, “Taking AP courses early helped me adapt and understand what was necessary to be successful.”

The Advanced Placement program is administered nationally by the College Board. Schools can elect to offer classes in seven subject categories including, History and Social Sciences, Math and Computer Science, and World Languages and Cultures. AP exams are offered in May and are scored on a one to five scale with five being the highest score. Students who achieve a score of three or above are eligible for college credit at many colleges and universities.

Between 2018 and 2025, the district increased AP offerings by 20 percent with more than 4,000 students enrolled in an AP course last year across 15 of the district’s high schools. Some of this growth can be attributed to the BPS “AP Access for ALL” initiative which helps students gain exposure to AP through certain classes allowing them to build their confidence before taking on more classes.

It’s not just participation that is on the rise. Test scores are going up too. In the past year, students receiving a score of 3 or above increased by 9 percent across the district thanks to access to mock exams and test prep for all AP students as well as professional development for teachers.

AP English Language, Literature, Biology, and Calculus are among the district’s most highly chosen classes and are now available in more than 20 BPS high schools. BPS was one of the first districts in the nation to adopt AP African American Studies, now one of the most popular courses. Initially piloted during the 2023 - 2024 school year, the course is currently offered in 13 schools districtwide with two more schools adding the class next school year. Next year, several schools plan to offer the newly released AP Business and Financial Literacy as well as AP Cybersecurity.

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Sarah Roberts’ Descendants Commit To Teaching Roberts Elementary Community Her Story

Three of Sarah Roberts' descendants ensure Black History is woven into the fabric of the new Sarah Roberts Elementary School.

Sarah Roberts’ Descendants Commit To Teaching Roberts Elementary Community Her Story

Black History Woven Into Fabric Of Sarah Roberts Elementary School

In 1847, a little girl in Boston changed history.

Five-year-old Sarah Roberts wanted to attend the school closest to her home. Instead, she was forced to walk past five schools to reach the segregated Abiel Smith School because she was Black. Her father, Benjamin F. Roberts, refused to accept that injustice. With the support of trailblazing attorney Robert Morris and future senator Charles Sumner, he launched the first legal challenge to school segregation in the United States.

Although the court ruled against Sarah, her courage – and her family’s persistence – helped lead Massachusetts to become the first state to ban segregated public schools in 1855. Her walk for justice became a path that others would follow for generations.

That legacy came full circle this year.

As the newly formed Sarah Roberts Elementary School opened -- uniting the former John D. Philbrick Elementary School and Charles Sumner Elementary School communities -- three of Sarah’s descendants, Teresa Harvey-Jackson, Lena Galloway-Reddick, and Claire Galloway-Jones, joined the new community as partners. During professional-development sessions preparing educators for the 2025–26 school year, they shared family stories, historical research, and a living connection to the past.

“To find out that the descendants of Sarah Roberts live close by and have continued to live lives of advocacy was thrilling,” said Roberts Elementary Co-Principal Meghan Welch. “The opportunity to hear from them in-person really inspires our staff to keep fighting for the rights of children. We know that access to the best quality education is going to be priority #1 if we are going to honor Sarah’s legacy.”

That spirit carried into the ribbon-cutting celebration, held in October in-partnership with the City of Boston. One Hundred and fifty-plus attendees filled the renovated auditorium as students performed and community leaders spoke about unity and renewal.

“Our students deserve a beautiful building such as this, one that reflects their worth, their brilliance, and their potential,” said Roberts Elementary Co-Prinicipals Welch and Danladi Babbit. “At Sarah Roberts Elementary, we are inspired by Sarah Roberts’ courage and her legacy of fighting for educational equity. This school stands as a reminder that every child in Boston deserves access to an excellent education in a space that honors their dignity and joy.”

Harvey-Jackson, Galloway-Reddick, and Galloway-Jones visited Roberts Elementary for the first time in January, using the opportunity to share their family history with students. They engaged with Sarah’s story, and each other, as a community over the course of two days, tightening a bond between the past, present and future.

Black history is not confined to textbooks at Sarah Roberts Elementary—it lives in its hallways, classrooms, and partnerships. One child. One family. One fight for fairness. And now, one school community committed to carrying that legacy forward.

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Boston Public Schools Achieves Highest Graduation Rate in District History

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released the 2025 graduation rate data that shows Boston Public Schools (BPS) students graduated at the highest rate in the district’s history.

[Margaret Muñiz Academy Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony]

Boston Public Schools Achieves Highest Graduation Rate in District History

BOSTON — Monday, March 9, 2026 — The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released the 2025 graduation rate data that shows Boston Public Schools (BPS) students graduated at the highest rate in the district’s history. The district’s 2025 four-year cohort graduation rate increased to 81.3%, a 1.6 percentage point increase from last year, marking the strongest graduation outcome the district has recorded. BPS graduated about 400 more students in the 2025 cohort compared to the 2024 cohort.

Simultaneously, BPS has continued to see a decline in the number of students leaving school before earning a diploma. The district’s annual dropout rate fell to 3.6%, a 0.9 percentage point decrease from the previous year, representing the lowest rate on record aside from the pandemic-impacted year of 2021. The decrease can be attributed primarily to the district's Re-Engagement Team consistently engaging with students who have dropped out and supporting them in enrolling in a school that can support and help them graduate. The options include individualized programs of study, project-based learning, wrap around supports, and connections to work-based learning. Planning for post-secondary success is also a critical component.

“I’m so proud to announce that Boston Public Schools achieved its highest graduation rate on record, with gains made across every demographic group,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This academic achievement is proof that investing in our students and families works—and it’s key to progress in making the nation’s first public school system the best in the country.”

“These results reflect the dedication of our students, educators, and families, as well as the focused work happening across our schools to support student success,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Over the past several years, BPS has made important investments in strengthening instruction and student supports, expanding early college and career pathways, and addressing chronic absenteeism so students stay connected to their learning. We are encouraged by this progress and we will continue to build upon this momentum to guarantee every student has the support and opportunities they need to graduate prepared for college, career, and life beyond our classrooms.”

Gains were made across all student demographics in the 2025 four-year cohort with particularly strong increases for English learners (+4.9 percentage points) and English learners with disabilities (+5.1 percentage points).

The district’s five-year cohort graduation rate increased by 0.5% to 84.9%.

Additionally, ten of the 16 BPS transformation high schools experienced a significant increase in their four-year graduation rate.

In recent years, BPS has prioritized strategies aimed at improving student outcomes and increasing graduation rates. The district has expanded early college, career and technical programs or CTE, and career-connected learning opportunities for students to earn college credit and gain real-world experience while still in high school. Schools have also increased counseling and academic supports while implementing targeted strategies to address chronic absenteeism and ensure students remain engaged in school. The district has also strengthened classroom instruction by investing in high-quality instructional materials aligned with state standards and evidence-based practices while providing additional academic supports to help students succeed.

“This milestone reflects the hard work and resilience of our students and the dedication of educators and our families across Boston,” said Boston School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson. “Improving graduation outcomes requires sustained focus on strong instruction, meaningful student supports, and ensuring students remain connected to their learning. The School Committee is proud to support the district’s continued efforts to expand opportunities and remove barriers so every student has a clear pathway to graduation.” More information about the state’s graduation and dropout data is available through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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About Boston Public Schools
The Boston Public Schools, the birthplace of public education in the United States, serves more than 46,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 109 schools. BPS is committed to transforming the lives of all children through exemplary teaching in a world-class system of innovative, welcoming schools. We partner with the community, families, and students to develop in every learner the knowledge, skill, and character to excel in college, career, and life.

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BPS, Boston, & Jumpstart Celebrate 20 Years of Partnership on Boston Reads Day

Boston Public Library and community partners donate nearly 8,000 books to students across BPS classrooms, welcoming 312 volunteers into Pre-K classrooms across the district to read and celebrate early literacy with students.

Boston Public Schools, City of Boston, and Jumpstart Celebrate 20 Years of Read for the Record on Boston Reads Day

Boston Public Library and community partners donate nearly 8,000 books to students across BPS Pre-K classrooms citywide

BOSTON — Thursday, February 26, 2026 — Today, Boston Public Schools (BPS), in partnership with the City of Boston and Jumpstart, hosted Boston Reads Day, welcoming 312 volunteers and city leaders into Pre-Kindergarten classrooms across the district to read aloud and celebrate early literacy with students. Launched in October 2025, the City of Boston’s citywide literacy campaign, Boston Reads, is designed to advance literacy across the city, beginning with its youngest learners and supports Mayor Michelle Wu’s vision of making Boston the most family-friendly city in America.

“Early literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning, and Boston Public Schools is committed to ensuring that every child develops the skills and confidence to become a strong reader,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Boston Reads Day brings our community together to support our youngest learners, reinforcing that reading is not only a classroom priority but a shared responsibility across the city. We are grateful to Mayor Wu, the Office of Early Childhood, Jumpstart, our many city partners, and all the volunteer readers for helping make this day possible for our students.”

Boston Reads supports the district’s work by expanding access to early literacy content and the Focus curriculum citywide so emerging readers can continue building these skills beyond the classroom. Families across Boston will have opportunities to engage with literacy resources early, before students encounter them in school and throughout their years in BPS.

“Building the most family-friendly city means investing in our children from day one,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston Reads Day puts a spotlight on our focus on literacy — connecting our schools, families, and community volunteers to make sure every child has the foundation they need to thrive."

This year also marks 20 years of partnership between BPS, the City of Boston, and Jumpstart through Read for the Record, Jumpstart’s national early-literacy campaign launched in 2006. As part of Boston Reads Day, guest readers from across Boston, including municipal staff, community leaders, and partners, visited BPS Pre-K classrooms to share this year’s featured book, See Marcus Grow by Marcus Bridgewater. In partnership with the Boston Public Library and the City of Boston, nearly 8,000 copies were distributed to participating classrooms, giving students the opportunity to continue reading at home with their families.

“Partnering with Boston city leaders and our schools for the Read for the Record’s 20th anniversary highlights the importance of community support for early learning,” said Crystal Rountree, CEO of Jumpstart for Young Children. “We love sharing books and connections that build language, literacy and learning for so many children.”

“I am excited to support Jumpstart and Boston Reads and their important mission of promoting early literacy,” said author Marcus Bridgewater. “It's an honor to share See Marcus Grow with young readers across the country for the 20th anniversary of Read for the Record. The stories I read as a child planted the seeds for the forest of my life today, and I'm thankful to share the joy of reading with the younger generation as an author.”

Over the past three years, BPS has strengthened literacy instruction through its Equitable Literacy strategy, with all schools now using district-approved, high-quality instructional materials aligned with state standards and supported by enhanced professional development and instructional coaching. These efforts are already contributing to measurable improvements in student outcomes and district accountability.

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Events

Feb 14

Saturday Recreational Tennis

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Feb 15

Sample Event

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Feb 16

Parent, Teacher, and Community Association Meeting

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Feb 19

College Counseling Fair with State University and Community Colleges

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

2025-26 School Year Calendar

2025-26 Grading Calendar