As part of an ambitious education overhaul, the City of Boston has proposed closing several historic schools by the end of the 2025–26 academic year. The closures, which include schools over a century old, come amid continuing declines in student enrollment and the district’s efforts to address aging infrastructure and shifting demographics.
The Schools Set to Close
Boston Public Schools (BPS) has recommended the closure of six schools, many of which have a deep historical significance in the city. Among the schools affected are Excel High Schoolbuilt on the site of the historic South Boston High School (established in 1901), and Dever Elementaryfounded in 1957. These closures are expected to impact approximately 1,300 students, according to BPS data.
Excel High School, originally South Boston High, is one of the oldest institutions in the city, having served the community for more than a century. At its peak, it housed over 1,000 students but now enrolls just 387. As reported by the Boston Globee, the school has been operating at less than two-thirds capacity in recent years, making it a prime candidate for closure in the district’s restructuring plan.
Dever Elementary, established in 1957, has been under state receivership for over a decade due to academic struggles. It currently serves fewer than 400 students and is located in a building that no longer meets the needs of its diverse student body, many of whom are English learners or students with disabilities. The closure would affect a predominantly low-income population, as noted by district reports.
The Other Schools Facing Closure
In addition to Excel and Dever, the closures will also affect other aging institutions, including:
, Mary Lyon Pilot High School(built in 1925), which has struggled with under-enrollment, operating at just 40% capacity.
• Winthrop Elementary School (established in 1911), which will merge with Clap Elementary School in Dorchester.
• Roger Clap Elementary School (built in 1896), which faces a merger with Winthrop Elementary.
• Community Academy in Jamaica Plain, which will cease to be a diploma-granting high school, transitioning to serve students in alternative educational settings.
Why the closures?
The closures are part of BPS’s larger effort to modernize education and respond to declining enrollment across the district. Superintendent Mary Skipper explained that consolidating schools would allow the district to allocate resources more efficiently. As quoted by the Boston Globethis restructuring is a critical step toward improving academic outcomes and addressing the city’s evolving educational needs.
What’s Next for Boston Schools?
With the approval of the Boston School Committee, these closures are set to take effect by the end of the 2025–26 school year. The district hopes that consolidating resources will create better learning environments for students, as reported by the Boston Globe,
