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