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

Boston Latin Academy

Boston Latin Academy has a 135-year history of academic excellence with an outstanding rate of college placement. We boast a rich multicultural population and dedicated administrators and faculty who challenge and encourage students. We are proud to have a supportive Alumni Association and an active Parent Council. The students of BLA, their parents, and the faculty share a commitment of excellence. Our curriculum has been developed to ensure that all students are well prepared for success in college and success in life.

Unique Features

Students are encouraged to appreciate the ideas and practices expressed in the classics and to recognize the evolving continuum between them and the complex, ever-changing challenges of our society. While appreciating the classics, we also use data-based research to inform and re-imagine our curriculum as we strive to make it match our 21st-century student body of engaged learners. We seek to challenge our students while, at the same time, providing them with the scaffolds to succeed.

Before School Programs

Click on the tab labeled students at https://www.latinacademy.org/ for a list of our school's before and after school programming.

After School Programs

Clubs, after-school tutoring, faculty office hours. Click on the tab labeled students at https://www.latinacademy.org/ for a list of our school's before and after school programming.

Sports

Football
Cheerleading Soccer (Girls and Boys)
Co-Ed Cross Country
Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Basketball (Girls and Boys)
Co-Ed Wrestling
Co-Ed Swimming
Co-Ed Indoor Track & Field
Co-Ed Outdoor Track and Field
Lacrosse (Girls and Boys)
Softball
Baseball
Flag Football (Girls)
Ice Hockey (Girls and Boys)

Extracurricular

Academy Actors
Band
Business Club
Certamen (Latin Club)
Choir
Classics Club
Dance
Debate Team
First Robotics
Gay Straight Alliance
Greenhouse Club
Japanese Culture Club
Machine Science
Math Club
Mock Trial
Model United Nations
Muslim Student Association
National Honor Society
Online Writing Club
Peer Tutoring
Recycling Club
School Newspaper
Science Club
Self-Defense Club
Step Squad
Student Ambassador
Student Forum; Talented and Gifted
Yearbook

Additional Information

Advanced Placement

AP US History
AP African American Studies
AP American Government
AP Biology; AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP Comparative Government
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Economics
AP Environmental Science
AP French Language
AP Human Geography
AP Language And Composition
AP Latin; AP Physics
AP Precalculus
AP Research
AP Seminar: English
AP Statistics
AP World History

Partners

Big Sister Association, Scholastic Book Fair, Geskus, Vertex, University of Mass Lowell Engineering Immersion, HMS MedScience, Pathway Initiative, Discovering Justice, Early Investors, Boston Debate League, Council for International Educational Exchange, Aspen Challenge, Private Industry Council (PIC), SuitUp, The Home for Little Wanderers, Roxbury YMCA, Steppingstone, Summer Search, Youth Enrichment Services.

https://www.partnerbps.org/

Special Admission School

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Specialized Education Programs

Family Engagement Opportunities

Boston Latin Academy offers many ways for families to stay engaged, including monthly workshops, cultural celebrations, and focus groups that inform our priorities. Families receive updates through ParentSquare, volunteer at events, and support initiatives such as the school store and donation drives. We also partner with the Family Council and community organizations to promote inclusion, belonging, and student success. Additionally, we have a School Site Council and also offer Equity Round Tables, Familiy Workshops, and a Post-secondary planning team.

Contact

Head of School
Gavin Smith

Assistant Headmaster
Richard Sullivan

205 Townsend Street
Dorchester, MA 02121

academy@bostonpublicschools.org

Phone
617-635-9957

Fax
617-635-6696

School Hours
7:20 a.m.-1:40 p.m.

Grades: 7-12
Level: Middle/High
School Type: Exam

Quick Links

Visit our website

Learn more about Boston's exam schools

BPS Registration

School Data

Climate Survey Results

2023 School Report Card