| Attending an excellent public school is one of any | | | | district in the country. The Broad Prize includes |
| parents highest priorities. For those living in or | | | | $500,000 in scholarship money for the students of |
| considering a move to Boston, the award-winning | | | | Boston Schools. This was Boston's fifth year as a |
| Boston Schools are an excellent choice. Boston | | | | finalist. Boston has earned a total of $1 million in |
| Schools and their governing board have the following | | | | scholarship money, having earned $500,000 total for |
| plan in place to continue the excellence that is the | | | | being selected as a finalist in the previous four years. |
| most appealing feature for parents and the | | | | "… the School Committee, Superintendent |
| community. | | | | Contompasis and his staff have been working hard |
| A national commendation to the district of Boston | | | | to accelerate the improvement in all of the city's |
| Schools was recently awarded by the National School | | | | schools," Mayor Menino said. "This award today could |
| Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The award | | | | not have been accomplished without the hard work |
| considers a variety of print and on-line publications in | | | | of the staff in Boston Schools and of the students |
| its annual awards competition. Publications of two | | | | and their families who make Boston Schools an |
| Boston Schools have earned Awards of Excellence: | | | | exciting place to be and a great place to learn." |
| the Boston Public Schools Career and College Guide, | | | | There are 146 schools in the district of Boston |
| and The Boston Educator. | | | | Schools. The enrollment in Boston Schools is 57,000 |
| "Effective communication is critical to engaging | | | | students. |
| students, families, staff, and the community in the | | | | Boston Schools have a unique history; it is the first |
| success of Boston Schools," said Superintendent | | | | district in the United States to open a school; the |
| Michael G. Contompasis. "I am pleased that our | | | | Boston Latin School was founded in 1635, and |
| improved communications efforts have been | | | | Mather, the oldest public elementary school opened it |
| recognized, and I congratulate the Boston Schools | | | | doors in 1639. The public school system in Boston |
| staff and external partners who worked to create | | | | Schools is the oldest public school system, started in |
| these award-winning products." | | | | 1647, and opened the nation's first public high school |
| On September 19, 2006, Boston Mayor Thomas M. | | | | in 1821. |
| Menino, School Committee Chair Elizabeth Reilinger, | | | | Truly, a public school system that serves, that has a |
| and Interim Superintendent Michael Contompasis | | | | rich history, and continues to be recognized nationally, |
| traveled to New York City to accept the Broad Prize | | | | is one that all Boston Schools parents (or parents |
| for Urban Education from Eli Broad and the Broad | | | | considering a move to a new city) should consider |
| Foundation as the most improved urban school | | | | enrolling their children in. |