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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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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.

State Names Six Boston Public Schools as Schools of Recognition

As part of its annual accountability reporting process, DESE identifies a small number of Schools of Recognition across the Commonwealth. These schools demonstrate measurable progress toward annual accountability targets, with particular emphasis on improved student achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The recognition reflects sustained efforts by school leaders, educators, staff, students, and families to strengthen instruction, support student learning, and drive academic growth.

Boston Public Schools congratulates the six Schools of Recognition and thanks the educators, students, families, and partners whose commitment made this achievement possible.

The six Boston Public Schools receiving this distinction are:

Grew Elementary School
Philbrick Elementary School (Now Sarah Roberts Elementary School)
Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School
New Mission High School
Boston Latin Academy
Boston Latin School

The Schools of Recognition announcement follows last year's release of the 2024–2025 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and accountability results, which show encouraging trends across Boston Public Schools.

Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School

“This recognition highlights the hard work of our students and staff as we continue strengthening teaching and learning at PJK," said Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School Principal Kristen Goncalves Redden. "Our progress reflects a clear focus on meeting students where they are, supporting their growth, and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed. We’re encouraged by this progress and remain committed to continued improvement.”

Philbrick Elementary School

“Transforming a school means building a culture where every student is seen, challenged, and supported to grow,” said Sarah Roberts Elementary School Co-Principal Danladi Bobbitt. “When vision, relationships, and purpose align, schools become places where possibility turns into achievement. It was an honor to work with staff, families, students, and partners in the Philbrick's journey to academic success.”

New Mission High School

“New Mission’s recognition reflects the strength of our school community and the intentional work happening across classrooms to support student achievement," said New Mission High School Co-Principals Kareem Cutler and Karen Loughran. "Our progress is driven by high expectations, meaningful relationships, and a commitment to preparing students for success beyond high school. We’re proud of our students and staff for the growth they’ve achieved together.”

Boston Latin Academy

"We have worked hard as a school to emphasize a continued focus on high academic achievement, recognizing that student growth is an integral part of this,” Boston Latin Academy Head of School Gavin Smith. “I want to commend our educators, students, families and partners for their continued effort and belief in the vision of our school. We’re proud of this achievement and remain committed to ensuring every BLA student thrives and is prepared to leave their mark on Boston and beyond."

Boston Latin School

“Meeting and exceeding our accountability targets reflects the sustained commitment of our students, educators, and families to academic rigor and continuous improvement," said Boston Latin School Head of School Jason Gallagher. "This recognition affirms the work happening across our school to support student learning while maintaining high expectations. We’re proud of this achievement and the community that made it possible.”

Grew Elementary School

“This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our students, families, and staff to continuous growth," said Grew Elementary School Principal Christina Michel. "The progress we’ve made over the past two years is the result of intentional instruction, strong collaboration, and a shared belief in what our students can achieve. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and remain focused on building on this momentum.”

Representatives from the recognized schools will receive certificates at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, during a ceremony held at The Grand Staircase inside the Massachusetts State House (24 Beacon Street, Boston).

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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

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.

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Events

Feb 7

Saturday Recreational Tennis

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Feb 9

Parent, Teacher, and Community Association Meeting

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Feb 14

Saturday Recreational Tennis

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Feb 15

Sample Event

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Boston International High School

Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINcA) is Boston's only school that is part of Internationals Network for Public Schools. BINcA is focused on welcoming students from immigrant families and preparing them for college and career.

Unique Features

Our school focus is to prepare students from immigrant families for an amazing future. We partner with our families and community to ensure students will be college and career ready and motivated to pursue a life of learning and civic engagement.

Before School Programs

Homework support and breakfast.

After School Programs

Varsity and Junior Varsity Sports
Boston Debate
Boston Dreamers Program
Student Government
Cultural Clubs
Community Celebrations

Sports

Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Girls Volleyball
Indoor Track
Boys Basketball
Outdoor Track
Boys Baseball
Girls Softball

Extracurricular

Varsity and Junior Varsity Sports
826 Boston Boston Debate League
BINcA Bikes
BINcA Urban Gardening & Sustainability Club
Student Government,
Haitian Club
Cape Verdean Club
Dominican Club,
Asian Club
Central American Club
Black Student Union
and more.

Additional Information

Early College Enrollment

CTE Pathways

Advanced Placement

Partners

Language Programming Text

Other Academic Programs

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Contact

Headmaster
Tony King

100 Maxwell St.
Dorchester, MA 02124

bihs@bostonpublicschools.org

Phone
617-635-9373

Fax
617-635-8224

School Hours
8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.,
8:00 a.m.-1:20 p.m. Fri.

Early Dismissal, the day before Thanksgiving and last two days of school: 12:00 p.m.

Grades: 9-12
School Type: Regular

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