Madison Park Celebrates Early College Program with Record Number of Students Earning Associate Degree

The RoxMAPP Early College program enables Madison Park students to earn college credits while still in high school, accelerating their path to college and career success.

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Celebrates Early College Program with Record Number of Students Earning Associate Degree

Boston, MA - June 4, 2025 - Madison Park Technical Vocational High School is proud to announce and celebrate the outstanding achievements of its RoxMAPP Early College students who earned their associate degree from Bunker Hill Community College on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

Throughout the course of the program, these remarkable students demonstrated exceptional commitment to academic excellence while completing rigorous vocational training and college-level coursework simultaneously. Their accomplishments are a testament to the power of determination, focus, and the transformative opportunities made possible through Madison Park's RoxMAPP Early College program.

Please join us in congratulating the following graduates:

Cesar Pena Chicas – Electricity
Abu Sayem – Electricity
Matthias Kebede – Marketing
Beautiful Smith – Auto Technology
Mia Melo – Health Assisting
Kayla Saint Felix – Health Assisting
Naphtkie Desrosiers – Dental Assisting

This brings the total number of RoxMAPP Early College graduates in 2025 to 23, a record-setting achievement for Madison Park and a powerful example of what is possible when students are equipped with the right tools, guidance, and support.

“We are incredibly proud of these students,” said Mr. Paul Neal, Head of School at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. “Earning a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time is no small feat. These young scholars have shown what is possible when opportunity meets preparation.”

"The RoxMAPP Early College program at Madison Park is truly transformative,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “It provides students with an invaluable head start on their post-secondary education, equipping them with both academic knowledge and practical career skills. This integrated approach not only reduces the financial burden of college but also ensures our graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for the workforce or continued higher education."

The RoxMAPP Early College program enables Madison Park students to earn college credits while still in high school, accelerating their path to college and career success. This milestone not only reflects their hard work but also the power of partnerships between Boston Public Schools and Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) to expand access and equity in higher education.

“This program is about access, equity, and belief in our students’ potential,” said Taneka DeGrace, Assistant Head of School at Madison Park and RoxMAPP Program Director. “Our RoxMAPP scholars have embraced the challenge, shown resilience, and earned degrees that will shape their future. They are walking proof that early college works and we’re just getting started.”

“It’s an extreme honor to work with Ms. Taneka DeGrace and her RoxMAPP Early College Program at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to create opportunities for students to earn college-level credits and potentially an associate degree prior to graduating high school,” said Steve Prudent, Director of High School Partnerships & Pathways at BHCC. “The College is excited to welcome another group of Madison Park Early College scholars to BHCC’s community of graduates. Their success speaks volumes about their focus and determination to achieve at a high level.”

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About Madison Park Technical Vocational High School

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School is the only vocational high school in the Boston Public Schools district. It offers students a robust education that integrates academic rigor with technical training, preparing graduates for success in both college and their careers.

About the RoxMAPP Program

Designated as an Early College High School in 2019, RoxMAPP is a partnership between Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School (MPTVHS). The program offers students free, BHCC-transferable college courses beginning as early as 9th grade. These classes count toward both high school graduation and college credit, allowing students to earn an Associate's Degree from BHCC by the time they graduate from high school.

School Quality Working Group

The original School Quality Work Group (SQWG 1) was established by the Boston School Committee in May 2013 in response to a recommendation by the External Advisory Committee on School Choice (EAC). (Read the complete EAC recommendations here.) In the fall of 2014, the SQWG I released its recommended School Quality Framework, developed with input from a broad and diverse set of community stakeholders, and approved by the School Committee.

The Framework aims to provide a holistic measure of school quality includes both measures of quality and features or attributes of a school that may play a role in school quality for families and students.

The Framework has several purposes:

To inform school choice by giving families more information about schools and helping to determine the school choices available to students
To ensure transparency around school quality in order to promote greater public accountability
To educate stakeholders about the many aspects of school quality

In the fall of 2016, the Boston School Committee established the School Quality Work Group II (SQWG II), chaired by School Committee member Dr. Hardin Coleman, to serve as ambassadors and accountability partners during the Framework’s implementation phase. The School Committee approved the Revised School Quality Framework in July 2019.