Photo: Jay Willet/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston School Committee voted Thursday to close four public schools and merge two others at the end of the 2025 – 2026 school year.
The schools impacted by the closure include Paul A. Dever Elementary in Dorchester, the Community Academy in Jamaica Plain, Execel High School in South Boston and the Mary Lyon Pilot High School in Brighton.
Meanwhile, the John Winthrop Elementary School and the Roger Clap Elementary School will merged into the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School.
The closure and merger will affect nearly 1,300 students.
In a statement to WBZ NewsRadio, Superintendent Mary Skipper said this is all part of the district’s Long-Term Facilities Plan to match the number of enrollments to school buildings in order to provide “high-quality teaching and learning environment for every single student and educator.”
“We are committed to working with every family to create a smooth, seamless transition that fully supports the needs and wants of our students,” Skipper continued.
As for parents outside to Dever Elementary, they are shocked and devastated by the news.
“I don’t know it’s absurd,” one father told WBZ NewsRadio. ““I think [they’re] suppose to come [up] with solutions first before they close this school.”
Another parent said they didn’t hear about the closure until WBZ NewsRadio interviewed them. “It’s going to surprise a lot of family,” they said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWilletWBZ) reports.