Perched high atop Winter Hill, this state-of-the-art K-8 school's stated mission includes both a commitment "to academic excellence in the core subject areas and to broad enrichment opportunities in the arts, technology, and foreign language" and to ensuring that "all students are prepared to succeed in a rigorous college preparatory program in high school."
The school is home to over 550 students. Roughly two-thirds are enrolled in the City's alternative Choice program and one-third in the traditional Neighborhood program. The two programs will be unified into one school-wide approach in September 2011.
An extensive program of afterschool activities is offered, and the expansive outdoor facilities include basketball, tennis, and dodge ball courts, as well as playground equipment, plenty of blacktop space and a school garden.
The PTA is active and involved. Healey is also an international demonstration site for the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations, a nonprofit program that aims to help students set goals and achieve them. The social-emotional curricula, Open Circle (K-4) and Second Step (5-8), are taught to all students.
Principal Jason DeFalco leads the school. Test scores are available here and on the school website.
When the Brown school was built in 1908, Teddy Roosevelt was president, Henry Ford was producing his first Model T, and Somerville needed a new school to accommodate an influx of working families. Today, Brown is not only the city's oldest elementary school, it's still known for its family atmosphere and strong focus on both academics and personal development.
With just over 250 students, it is the smallest school in Somerville, making for a tight-knit academic community backed up by very involved parents. Extensive afterschool programs (many led by parents) run from homework help to rock climbing. The building itself is nestled on a leafy neighborhood street in the Davis Square area with a small blacktop area for exercise and a school garden out front. The school is an international demonstration site for the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations, a nonprofit program that helps students set goals and reach them, and the social-emotional curriculum, Second Step, is also taught to students.
School stats and test scores are available on the school's website and here. Kathleen J. Seward is the principal.
This alternative junior high school's stated mission is "to meet the special academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of adolescents who, for many reasons, have experienced failure in the traditional mainstream educational system in Somerville."
Individual educational plans as well as integrated learning are used to create an academic environment that can meet each student's needs at his or her own pace. Strong emphasis is also placed on counseling and participation in student government.
Founded in 1972, Next Wave is located at the Edgerly Education Center on Bonair St. The building has no outdoor recreational space, so activities are held at nearby Foss Park. Outreach to parents is considered essential and frequent phone contact, conferences, a quarterly parents' night and a monthly Parent Group and Dinner aid this goal. Principal David Willey leads the school.
Of note: A 2009 evaluation of the school funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, found that, "The interventions and services at the School constitute a powerful set of approaches to drop-out prevention and credit recovery" and "should be considered as a model for other schools"
School stats and test scores can be found here and on the school web page.