Brookline Public Schools

Brookline Public Schools
Name	Brookline Public Schools
Type	Public school district
Grades	Pre-K–12
Established	1640s
Location	Brookline, Massachusetts
Country	United States
Superintendent	Dr. Linus Guillory
Students	7,200 (approx.)
Staff	1,200 (approx.)
Website	www.brookline.k12.ma.us

Brookline Public Schools is the public school district serving the town of Brookline, Massachusetts. Operating nine schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, the district is known for its high academic achievement, extensive programming, and significant per-pupil expenditure. It is governed by an elected Brookline School Committee and operates within the framework of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

History

The origins of formal education in the area date to the 1640s, with the establishment of a one-room schoolhouse near the First Parish in Brookline. The district's development accelerated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside Brookline's transformation into a streetcar suburb of Boston. Landmark buildings like the Edward Devotion School, named for a colonial settler, and the Brookline High School campus on Tappan Street reflect this period of growth. Throughout the 20th century, the district was involved in significant educational initiatives, including early experiments with progressive education and later navigating the challenges of desegregation busing in the Boston busing crisis era.

Schools

The district comprises eight elementary K-8 schools and one comprehensive high school. The elementary schools are the Driscoll School, Heath School, Lawrence School, Lincoln School, Pierce School, Runkle School, and the Michael Driscoll School, alongside the K-8 Edward Devotion School. Brookline High School, the district's sole secondary institution, operates a main campus and the adjacent 225 Tappan Street building. The district also oversees the Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) for pre-kindergarten students.

Academics and programs

The curriculum aligns with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and often exceeds state standards, with a strong emphasis on STEM education, world languages, and the arts. Brookline High School offers an extensive selection of Advanced Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Notable specialized programs include the School Within a School alternative education program, the Steps to Success outreach initiative, and the Brookline Music School partnership. The district is consistently ranked among the top performing in Massachusetts by outlets like U.S. News & World Report.

Demographics

For the 2023-2024 school year, the district enrolled approximately 7,200 students. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with significant populations identifying as White, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, and Black or African American. A considerable number of students come from households where a language other than English is spoken, and the district provides substantial English Learner support services. The district also serves a population of students from families with high socioeconomic status, as measured by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Governance and funding

The district is governed by a five-member elected Brookline School Committee, which sets policy, approves budgets, and hires the superintendent. The current superintendent is Dr. Linus Guillory. Operational oversight is provided by the Town of Brookline's Select Board and Town Meeting. Funding is primarily derived from local property taxes, with additional amounts from the Massachusetts state government and federal grants, such as those from the Every Student Succeeds Act. The district's per-pupil spending is among the highest in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the district, particularly Brookline High School, include physicist and Nobel Prize laureate Sheldon Glashow, political commentator and author Michael Kinsley, actress and comedian Amy Poehler, former Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis, and television journalist Barbara Walters. Other distinguished graduates include architect Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and economist Larry Summers, former president of Harvard University and Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Category:School districts in Massachusetts Category:Education in Norfolk County, Massachusetts Category:Brookline, Massachusetts