Boston Community Leadership Academy

Boston Community Leadership Academy
20 Warren Street
Brighton 02135
(617) 635-8937

Nicole Bahnam, Headmaster

BCLA offers a rigorous college preparatory program with college acceptance as a graduation requirement. We are a small pilot school focused on developing future scholar leaders through community service learning and adherence to rigorous academic, social and civic expectations. Courses include AP classes, world languages, and arts. Seniors take part in their Capstone Projects requiring action research in their communities. All students present portfolios and exhibitions to demonstrate mastery in their coursework.

Students have a voice as members of Student Government, Governing Board and Leadership Team.

Special Features:

• We emphasize habits of mind and academic expectations to develop scholar leaders focused on improving their communities.
• Learning is personalized. Every student has an advisor who establishes supportive relationships for leadership development, wellness, and guidance and academic support.
• Inclusion model that includes co-teaching to support students in inclusive classes. All students have access to the Learning Center for academic support.
• Strong learning support services including school-based health center and peer mediation.
• Active student participation in Governing Board, Leadership Team, Student Council, and city-wide Boston Student Advisory Council.
• Extended block scheduling allowing for extra time on learning.
• Academic requirements for all students: exhibitions, portfolio presentations, and structured community service learning through a senior capstone course.
• Classes in drama, visual arts, screen writing, engineering, Facing History and Ourselves, AP English and Composition, AP Calculus, and AP Chemistry.
• After school program: academic support, sports, clubs, yearbook and student council.
• Common planning time for teachers to structure rigorous curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
• Seniors have financial aid assistance and ACCESS scholarship funds.
• Aim High tutoring program with Boston Partners in Education.

As of June 2008, the racial breakdown was as follows: 2.5% Asian, 52.4% Black, 36.4% Hispanic, 6.5% White, 1.5% Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic, and 0.7% Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander. Special education services were provided to 16.0% of students. (From the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education)

(Adapted from BPS School Profile, http://boston.k12.ma.us/schools/RC609.pdf)