Boston Collegiate Charter School

CONTACT:

11 Mayhew Street
Dorchester, MA 02125
617-265-1172
www.bostoncollegiate.org

Kathleen Sullivan, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Founded by nine teachers in 1998, as a school that would send all its students to college, SBHA graduated its first senior class in June 2004, with 100% of the class accepted to college and $513,000 earned in merit scholarships. What is its secret? The obvious: that exceptional teachers, high expectations, small classes, and clear discipline, can produce transforming results. Student instruction is individualized, and teachers are afforded the time, tools and resources they need, so student progress and professional satisfaction are high. Students work hard—classes from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon, with extra-curricular activities (70% participate) and academic work (25%) until five (children at SBHA from 5th to 12th grade will have two more years of schooling than typical Boston school students). The school receives thousands of applications each year and teachers have an average of five years of experience. Based on this success, SBHA launched, in 2001, the Edward Brooke Charter School. SBHA now has 360 students and recently moved into a new building in Dorchester, financed by dollars saved from previous years, a $7 million financial package, and philanthropic donations. If you happen to like success in public education, climb aboard!

(2002: CULTURE: Education: Formal: Schools)