Boston Public Schools High Schools Face Scrutiny Over Chronic Absenteeism And Academic Performance
In a recent opinion column published by The Boston Globe, higher education journalist Hilary Burns outlines a scathing Research Bureau report examining Boston Public Schools non-exam high schools. The study reveals deep academic struggles and staggering chronic absenteeism rates across the district’s non-exam facilities, which serve roughly three-quarters of public school students in grades 9 through 12.
Research Bureau Report Highlights High Needs And Low Mastery In BPS Non-Exam Schools
The Research Bureau report, which relied on state education department data, emphasizes that these non-exam facilities serve student populations with extraordinarily high levels of need. This includes English language learners, low-income students, special education students, and homeless youth. Despite various initiatives designed to support these high-needs students, the report states that Boston Public Schools does not yet ensure that all high schoolers master grade-level tasks.
Steve Poftak, the Research Bureau’s president and CEO, told the editorial board that these schools have historically lacked a strong political base. “Collectively we have not paid enough attention to these schools,” Poftak said, noting that they have not been part of the broader conversation about educational equity.
Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper Defends Consolidation And Strategic Roadmap
Responding to the findings, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper insisted in an interview with the editorial board that district leadership is already tackling many of the suggested reforms. Skipper pointed to ongoing school consolidation efforts, noting that the 31 schools analyzed in the report will be reduced to 25 high schools by the end of the current academic year.
However, Skipper cautioned that the district must move deliberately when closing facilities. “When you close a school, you have to consider the students and their needs,” she said, highlighting the importance of protecting students with disabilities and English language learners during transitions.
Chronic Absenteeism Fuels Low MCAS English And Math Scores Across District High Schools
The report links abysmal standardized test scores directly to pervasive attendance issues. Chronic absenteeism—defined by the state as missing 10 percent or more of the academic year, equivalent to 18 days—averaged 51.5 percent across the 31 studied high schools. This figure far exceeds the statewide average of 19 percent.
Absenteeism rates ranged from 27 percent at Fenway High to 98 percent at Community Academy, a small alternative program slated for closure at the end of the year. This lack of regular attendance helps explain why only 21.4 percent of 10th-graders met or exceeded expectations on the 2025 MCAS English exam, while just 17.3 percent reached that threshold on the math exam.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Public Schools Reforms
Which high schools outperformed statewide averages on state exams?
Only Boston Arts Academy and New Mission High School beat the statewide average on the English exam, while New Mission was the sole high school in the study to meet the benchmark on the math exam.
What specific recommendations did the Research Bureau make to district leadership?
The Research Bureau recommended identifying high-performing schools to replicate their strategies, measuring performance by consistent standards, and carefully evaluating whether additional underperforming schools should close.
What are school officials doing to address chronic absenteeism and academic tracking?
Superintendent Mary Skipper stated that the district is expanding early college and career training programs while deploying more social workers and attendance officers to bring down absenteeism numbers.
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