Big Changes Ahead: Boston Public Schools to Close Four Schools

Boston Public Schools are preparing for significant changes under a proposal aimed at modernizing the district’s facilities and improving the quality of education for its students. Superintendent Mary Skipper and Mayor Michelle Wu presented the plan during a press briefing, outlining a series of school closures, mergers, and grade reconfigurations. The proposal is part of a long-term facilities strategy first announced in 2023 and is designed to provide students and staff with high-quality, sustainable learning environments.

The plan includes the closure of four schools. Excel High School in South Boston and Dever Elementary School in Dorchester will be permanently closed. Meanwhile, the Mary Lyon Pilot School in Brighton will be reconfigured into a pre-K through sixth-grade facility, and Community Academy will pivot from a degree-granting institution to a clinical support and transition program for students requiring those services.

Additionally, the proposal includes merging Winthrop Elementary and Clap Elementary into a single school located at the Grove Hall facility. Several schools will also undergo grade reconfigurations: Young Achievers Pilot School and Boston Teachers Union Pilot School will change from serving pre-K through eighth grade to pre-K through sixth grade, and Dearborn Academy will adjust from serving grades six through 12 to grades seven through 12.

If approved, these changes will take effect by the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The plan is scheduled to be formally presented to the school committee on January 22. These proposed changes mark a significant step in the district’s efforts to create a more sustainable and effective educational system for Boston’s students.