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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Madison Park Technical Vocational High School

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School combines academics with hands-on training in over 20 career fields, offering industry certifications and real-world skills. With internships, apprenticeships, and a focus on equity, students are prepared for both the workforce and higher education.

At Madison Park, students graduate with a trifecta: An industry certification, a high school diploma, and, potentially, an associate degree. Hands-on training and internships provide real-world experience, preparing students for college, high-demand careers, and a bright future.

Special Features

Offers a comprehensive academic program, training in 20 Ch. 74 CTE programs, and is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Has three career clusters which are further divided into Small Learning Communities to support teaching and learning
Provides clinical, co-operative and internship opportunities to ensure students have industry specific skills to compete in today’s economy and offers students the chance to earn a paycheck while completing their degree
Direct pathway to a pre-apprenticeship program and 17 unique apprenticeships through Building Pathways and the Building Trades
Offers RoxMAPP Early College and Dual-Enrollment programs for students to earn college credit while still in high school. The Early College program enables students to obtain their Associate’s Degree from Bunker Hill Community College upon graduating from MPTVHS. The Dual Enrollment program allows students to take college-level classes at a consortium of local schools (Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology).
Guides college-bound students through the application process, with SAT preparation classes and mentoring, in partnership with Project Reach, Upward Bound, Bottom Line, Harvard University and U-Aspire
Supports cohorts of students with MCAS prep through the Blue Scholars program in collaboration with the Boston Private Industry Council
Competes with other high schools in SkillsUSA, a national technical, skills and service careers student leadership organization
Certifies students in OSHA-10 in all career programs, in addition to other specific industry recognized credentials
Guides industry-bound students through the job application process
Offers fourteen team sports programs and many extracurricular opportunities

After School Programs

We offer after school clubs:

E-Sports Club
Music Club
Anime Club
Dungeon & Dragons Club
Robotics Club
GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliance)
Prom Committee

We also have partnerships with the following organizations:

BAM
WOW
Big Brother Big Sister
Youth Guidance
Boston Public Health Commission
Union Capital
Tenacity

Sports

Boys' Soccer
Girls' Soccer
Girls' Volleyball
Football
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Boys' Basketball
Girls' Basketball
Ice Hockey
Indoor Track
Swimming
Boys' Volleyball
Girls' Volleyball
Track and Field
Boys' Baseball
Girls' Softball

Extracurricular

JROTC (Marine Corps)
SkillsUSA
Student Government

Additional Information

Early College Enrollment

CTE Pathways

Dental Assisting
Health Assisting
Medical Assisting
Design & Visual Communication
Information Technology & Networking (ITN)
Marketing; Media Arts
Graphic Communications
Programming & Web Design
Carpentry
Electricity
Building and Property Maintenance
Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigerator (HVAC&R)
Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies
Plumbing; Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Management
Automotive Technologies
Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing

Partners

Special Admission School

Interested students must apply online via the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School website, opening on October 1, 2024. Applicants must also register with Boston Public Schools and rank Madison Park as a choice on their BPS Choice form. Both forms must be submitted for your application to be complete.

https://madisonpark.bostonpublicschools.org/admissions/

Uniform Policy

Language Programming Text

Madison Park offers a transition program for Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). Educators address learning gaps and may use native language instruction to help students. The program includes academic and social-emotional support. Once students have developed foundational English skills and approach grade-level proficiency, they transition to an inclusive classroom with English-speaking peers.

Specialized Education Programs

Family Engagement Opportunities

Contact

Head of School
Paul Neal

75 Malcolm X Boulevard
Roxbury, MA 02120

madisonparkadmissions
@bostonpublicschools.org

Phone: 617-635-8970

School Hours
7:30 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Grades: 9-12
School Type: Innovation School

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