Boston Real World Learning

A quick look at some of the great pathways and Real World Learning programs in Boston.

School We’re Visiting

Background

As one of the most historic cities in the U.S., Boston is known for many of its infamous landmarks and events such as Fenway Park and the Boston Marathon. But some of its lesser known claim-to-fames have contributed to making Boston a city of many firsts and impressive recognitions. Boston constructed the first public park, subway system and public school in the country. Boston has ranked high in innovation rankings across the world for its transportation infrastructure, cultural assets and educational institutions. Boston has been recognized for its overall high quality of life, health and healthcare facilities, art funding, city planning and landscape architecture. 

Most notably, Boston is a city all about learning. Long nicknamed “the Athens of America” for its unusually high number of schools per capita, and recognized as the best student city in the U.S., the Greater Boston area has over 20 institutes of higher learning, making it one of the world’s best known academic hubs. 

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School Overviews

Boston Public Schools

Boston Public Schools takes its position as the birthplace of education seriously. Recently, the district embarked on a major transformation with the BuildBPS plan, a $1 billion long-term plan for new or improved facilities and decisions about grade configurations, program placements and minimizing transitions for students. 

Boston Public Schools (BPS) comprises over 54,000 students, nearly 4,500 teachers and 125 schools. Of these schools, 20 are pilot schools created to be models of educational innovation with more flexibility and autonomy, 6 are Horace Mann charter schools funded by BPS and 5 are Innovation Schools. The student population is highly diverse: 42% Hispanic, 34% Black, 14% and 9% Asian. Almost half (45%) of the students have a first language other than English, and nearly a third (32%) are English learners. 

Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers

“Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $250 million initiative to create new high schools around the nation that will graduate students directly into high-demand healthcare jobs with family-sustaining wages. This first-of-its kind initiative pairs public education systems and hospitals in 10 communities…” including Boston.

Set to launch for the 2025/26 year at EMK Academy for Health Careers, “Each school, whether newly established through this initiative or a revamp of an existing school, will offer students robust academic programming, specialized healthcare classes, work-based learning at the partner health system and the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials and certifications. Immediately upon graduation, students can enter healthcare jobs within the partner healthcare system or choose to advance their healthcare career through post-secondary education. As part of this initiative, all health system partners have committed to providing job opportunities for students who successfully complete the graduation requirements of their respective programs.” EMK will partner with Mass General Brigham. We will tour the lower campus for students in grades 9-10.

Dearborn STEM Academy

A STEM, Early College and BPE Teaching Academy for grades 6-12, Dearborn STEM provides students with real world learning opportunities through industry and higher ed partnerships in STEM career fields. The Early College program places 7th and 8th graders on track to an Associates Degree by the time they finish their senior year or super senior year. BPE Teaching Academies immerse future educators in a team teaching setting with colleagues of varying roles and experience levels and expertise. Dearborn offers three STEM Pathways Programs in Health Life Science, Engineering and Computer Science.

“Dearborn Next offers Dearborn STEM Academy alumni individualized support, comprehensive resources, and a powerful network. We provide access to trainings, internship and job opportunities, counseling, and mentorship to ensure that all of our alumni are equipped with the skills, resources, and network to become engaged citizens entering purposeful, wealth-building careers within six years of high school graduation.”

Boston Arts Academy

The only public high school for the visual and performing arts in Boston, BAA believes “the arts help young people find their voices, build creative problem-solving skills, and engage in meaningful ways with their communities leading to success in college and careers.” Students can choose from four areas: Dance, Music, Theater and Art & Design. In each focus area, students connect with professionals in the field while learning technique and art history alongside a college prep curriculum. BAA also offers several summer programs for students. Through the ProArts Consortium, an association of seven higher ed institutions that specialize in the visual arts, performing arts and architecture, students can obtain college credit.

“Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, BAA is housed in a new state-of-the-art facility, encompassing 153,500 square feet and increasing capacity for the school by more than 15 percent. The new facility provides better rehearsal studios, high-tech fashion and fine art studios, a gymnasium, dance studios, a cutting-edge STEAM lab, a rooftop recital hall, and professional theaters… This five-story facility, while catering to the student experience, also provides space rental options for local artists and performers. In this way, BAA can continue to develop a community learning environment where our students can not only create and compose their own original work but also be inspired through working artists in and around Boston.”

Brighton High School

A multilingual learner-focused high school, Brighton has been open since 1841. “All students entering Brighton High take core courses in both biomedical sciences and design/entrepreneurship in the 9th grade. Starting in 10th grade, students are able to choose to continue in either of these career pathways or to take other elective classes at BHS… Students are also able to dual enroll in several different local colleges and universities starting in the 11th grade. Students in both the biomedical and business/entrepreneurship pathways have multiple credit bearing internship opportunities, starting in the 11th grade and continuing through graduation. Our business/Entrepreneurship pathway is known as the M. A.D.E. (Media, Art,Design, Entrepreneurship) for Social Justice Pathway.  Through a series of courses in media, arts, design, and entrepreneurship, all BHS students learn the ways social justice is intertwined in all contents, all classes, and in our everyday lives.”

Boston Green Academy

Boston Green is a Green Ribbon School with a focus on experiential learning and sustainability serving grades 6-12 . The Green Line ensures students in sixth grade through high school graduation consistently participate in a variety of exposure, engagement and experiences aligned with the school’s mission to prepare students to “succeed in college and career, and prepares them to lead in the sustainability of our community and world”.

The only school in Boston Public Schools to offer an Environmental Science pathway program(and a clean energy pathway is in process!), Boston Green supports students with interests in environmental science careers through industry partnerships, certifications, internships, field trips and project-based learning.

NuVu

Launched in 2010, NuVu Innovation School in Cambridge, MA is a microschool for students in grades 8-12 that shares a building with Central Square Theater. Using a student-centered studio model, NuVu students work with a coach to problem-solve through applied learning experiences cross-curricularly. Students work on their projects for extended periods of time and showcase their work through a portfolio.

MassBay Community College

MassBay Community College, in conjunction with neighboring Framingham State University, offers early college opportunities in three communities in the MetroWest region near Boston: Framingham, Milford, and Waltham. The program, which is run by the MetroWest College Planning Collaborative, a joint enterprise of the two colleges, has altogether served 600 middle and high school students in several career-oriented pathways. One such pathway is Biotechnology, which is offered to students attending Framingham High School. The Biotechnology pathway includes both courses taught at the high school site and labs taught in MassBay’s Biotechnology Laboratory, housed in the Center for Biomanufacturing Education and the Center for Therapeutics and Genomics training, run by Professor Nirmal Singh. The Centers have produced 22 recipients of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship over the years. Staff of the MetroWest College Planning Collaborative support the Biotechnology pathway both in the high school and in the college laboratory.

American Student Assistance

Through research, advocacy, grants, investments and digital platforms, ASA, a national non-profit,  is “revolutionizing the school-to-work journey for every kid in America, starting in middle school.” Through research focused on non-degree pathways, understanding Gen Z, career education and work-based learning, ASA has found that beginning career education in middle school is essential to helping students know themselves and make decisions for their future.