Boston Schools to Close Four Schools, Reshape District by 2026
Boston Public Schools plans to shut down four schools and reorganize others by 2026. The changes will impact education for thousands of students across the district.
Dever Elementary, Excel High, Mary Lyon Pilot’s high school program, and Community Academy will close. The district has closed 35 schools since 2002 – these four add to that ongoing list.
Winthrop and Clap Elementary will combine at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School location. This renovated space will accommodate 700 students and offer a dual-language program in English and Cape Verdean Creole.
“For far too long, many students in Boston have been denied equitable access to modern, sustainable, well-ventilated, and learning-centered school buildings like those that students in other districts benefit from,” said Jessica Tang, Boston Teachers Union President, to the Boston Teachers Union.
More changes are coming. Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot, BTU Pilot, and Mary Lyon’s lower school will serve pre-K through grade 6. Dearborn STEM Academy will switch to grades 7-12.
Excel High’s closure comes with hope. Superintendent Mary Skipper told Dorchester News that its strong building will help it return as an important high school after renovations.
District leaders will present their plan to the school committee on January 22. They’ll outline space requirements through 2030 based on enrollment trends.
Additional changes are expected. By 2030, five to seven more elementary schools and up to seven high schools could close or be restructured.
While Community Academy will stop offering diplomas, it will continue as a student support center. The former Dever building might become part of an expanded Ruth Batson Academy.
The district’s closures keep adding up – 16 schools since 2015, reaching 20 in just 16 years.
Union leaders are pushing for building improvements. They want three new buildings each year and detailed construction plans within weeks.
