Supt. of Schools
Mary Skipper and
Mayor Michelle Wu:
“Over the last five years, BPS has engaged our community in tackling long-deferred investments and hard decisions so that every student and family can have a baseline of academic rigor, holistic supports, opportunities for early college and career preparation, and enrichment through youth sports and arts. Our public education dollars should be serving students and delivering real outcomes, rather than getting drained into half-empty or too-small school buildings that deny our students the quality experience they deserve. Under the BPS Long-Term Facilities Plan launched in 2023, the district has invested in more new buildings and renovations than in the last forty years combined, and we continue to present recommendations each fall to further address needed improvements. This week, we will present to the Boston School Committee a list of proposals—including three school relocations, two expansions, two reconfigurations, and three closures—that advance high-quality, reliable pathways from pre-K to high school across the district.
Closing a school is one of the hardest decisions we have to make as a district, and we understand the strong emotions this recommendation brings to the Charlestown High School community. The City and BPS will work alongside neighbors and school community members to transition another high school to this building that reflects BPS’s vision of a high-quality experience and meets the neighborhood’s vision as early as the 2028–2029 school year, so that this space will be a thriving anchor for our BPS high school network, for Charlestown, and for the whole city.”
Boston Public Schools spokesperson Sujata Wycoff:
“Over the last three years, enrollment has rapidly declined 32% – from 820 students to 559. This decline is expected to accelerate as smaller cohorts rise through the school. There are currently 205 students in grade 12, compared with 65 in grade 9 and 48 in grade 7.
These smaller classes make it increasingly difficult to sustain the courses, programs, and opportunities students deserve.
A diminished school size limits BPS’s ability to provide students with disabilities meaningful opportunities to learn alongside their general education peers.”
State Rep. Dan Ryan
“Until I receive the details of the plan going to the School Committee this week, I will refrain from commenting on the specifics, as anything I say would be mere speculation. I look forward to a continued conversation surrounding Charlestown High School and the future of all the schools in this district. My hope is the conversation is one that takes the concerns of current students, families, and faculty first, with an eye on a future public secondary education presence that serves the Charlestown community.”
This is tough news, maybe even shocking to hear; but it shouldn’t be a surprise. The City of Boston and Boston Public Schools have been reviewing and analyzing the future of our school facilities for at least five years. As this plays out in City Hall, I’ll wait patiently, as a Charlestown resident, to hear from City Council colleagues who have expressed concerns about our neighborhood. I appreciate the difficult decisions Mayor Wu and Superintendent Skipper have ahead. I will continue to work with them and Councilor Coletta-Zapata for the best possible outcome for the Charlestown High community and the Charlestown neighborhood.”
State Sen. Sal DiDomenico
“My priority is ensuring all our students and families get access to the best and highest quality education and schools. I am disappointed to hear about this proposal to close Charlestown High School. I look forward to hearing how this city reviews this proposal and I hope to see all our Charlestown residents included in these discussions to ensure they are part of this decision.”