English High School Today
English High Reaches Semifinals of EdVestors 2023 ‘School on the Move’ Competition
There was tough competition and The English High School of Boston did reach the semifinalist stage in the prestigious 2023 ‘School on the Move’ competition among Boston Public Schools. In the end, however, EHS was edged out by three other schools in the district who moved on to the next level.
EHS Head of School Caitlin Murphy speaking at the 200th Anniversary Gala in October, 2022
The competition is sponsored by EdVestors, a school improvement organization that, since 2002, has raised and invested over $42 million in school improvement efforts.
In announcing the outcome, English High Head of School Caitlin Murphy said, “It’s a highly competitive pool and we were happy to be nominated and to make it this far. During the new school year, our staff of experienced educators are committed to creating and continuously improving learning environments where all our students thrive.”
Lorena Lopera, EdVestors VP for Advancement and External Relations, said, “Through this program, we shine a light on outstanding schools, leaders, and teachers. By sharing these stories, we hope to help more schools make significant progress for their students.”
English High Head Murphy added, “Thanks to our staff’s years of hard work, our graduation rate has risen over 30% in the past 6 years. This high tide has brought along all students: English Language learners have gone from the lowest graduation rate in the school to the highest, and the rate of advanced course completion for students of color, English language learners, and students with disabilities surpasses the BPS rate. It is teacher leadership that has made English High a school on the move.”
In 2021, English High celebrated its 200th Anniversary and continues a proud tradition as it prepares 7th-12th graders from across the city for both college and career. EHS’s dramatic academic improvement may be traced to the system it uses to keep track of each of its 650 students: Teachers meet weekly to review academic and non-academic data for students and identify those in need of extra support. Also, each teacher creates a quarterly benchmark test to monitor student progress and quickly intervene when necessary, a practice that has been modeled for other schools in the district and the region.
English High Alumni Association President Michael Thomas ’67, a key catalyst in pushing progress at his alma mater, said, “Our Alumni take pride in supporting the Tutoring Center, Career Pathways programs, Music & Arts programs, and awarding Scholarships that annually assist hundreds of students. EdVestors and the English High School Association (EHSA) share common goals including “preparing every student to activate their power and shape their future.”
Among supporters/investors in EdVestors are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Boston Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, State Street Corporation, Cabot Family Charitable Trust, and many more.
