Beginning with the four neighborhoods of Roxbury, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, the goals of Y/BPS are to:

• Encourage families to consider the Boston Public Schools as an option for their child’s education.
• Help parents become more informed consumers of Boston’s school choice system.
• Help schools improve their ability to communicate what they offer to families.

The YMCA of Greater Boston believes that supporting public education is important to carrying out its mission of ensuring that families and communities remain strong. The YMCA’s involvement in this project stems from its experience that many families are unaware of the
educational opportunities available for their children in the Boston Public Schools, and parents are asking for better access to accurate and candid information about the schools.

Y/BPS is overseen by a team representing three branches of the YMCA, the Boston Public Schools, and the office of Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

A FEW REASONS FAMILIES ARE TAKING A LOOK AT BPS: 

• reduced class sizes 
• creative curriculum designed to challenge students at all levels 
• advanced work classes beginning in 4th grade 
• peers from many countries, cultures and family backgrounds 
• rising test scores and increasing college attendance 
• greater opportunities for parent involvement 
• expanded arts opportunities 
• affordable, high-quality before- and after-school programs 
• more school choice: new schools, pilot schools, early childhood programs, K-8 schools, and small high schools