Mattapan, MA Brooke Charter Schools welcomed government officials, state representative Holmes, city council president Andrea Campbell, secretary of education James Peyser, and mayor Martin Walsh to a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the new Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy campus.

Designed by Arrowstreet and built by Consigli, this 90,000 s/f facility on 200 American Legion highway will house Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy, which will serve a total of 780 students at full capacity. With 38 classrooms; science and computer science labs; art, music, and dance studios; a robotics makerspace; a 650-seat auditorium; and a regulation gymnasium, the building is designed to realize Brooke Charter Schools’ aspiration to become the number one open-enrollment public high school in the state.

“We are thrilled to work with Brooke Charter Schools to create a new learning environment for students and a resource for the entire Mattapan community on a previously underutilized site,” said Larry Spang, principal at Arrowstreet. “The design incorporates substantial natural light and views to create learning environments that support the next generation of high-performing students.”

Founded in 2002, Brooke Charter Schools’ mission is to provide a rigorous public education that ensures students are prepared to succeed in college and beyond. Before 2016, Brooke ran three K-8 schools in Roslindale, Mattapan, and East Boston. Brooke scholars’ achievements made these the top-performing public schools in the city and state. After graduating, Brooke alumni attended 47 different high schools that varied widely in quality.

In 2016, Brooke got the game changing opportunity to launch a high school. In its first two years, the new high school operated in temporary space, while Brooke built this state-of-the-art facility. In their first-ever state exam, Brooke High scholars outperformed every other Massachusetts public school. Ultimately, BrookeHigh School will serve 600 scholars, who will complete at least two Advanced Placement courses, a 3-year computer science sequence, as well as extra-curricular and community service requirements. All Brooke High alumni will graduate with high-quality college options. After leaving this building, they will go on to become diverse, dynamic leaders of Boston’s future.

Because charter public schools do not receive the same state subsidies as district schools receive to finance their facilities, Brooke Charter Schools is in the midst of a capital campaign to fund the building project. The event recognized and thanked current donors. 

Highlights of the ribbon cutting ceremony included:

• Governor Charlie Baker’s video called Brooke, “A true gem in the crown jewel of education in Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
• Representative Russell Holmes called Brooke, “A shining star” and “the number one school in the state.”
• City Council President Andrea Campbell said, “This is more than a high school, it is a place where students and families can dream… It is a beacon of high expectations.”
• Mayor Marty Walsh said, “The Brooke schools in Roslindale, East Boston and Mattapan have thrived. The teaching is strong. The culture focused. The students have excelled. Now we have a facility that matches and raises theses high standards... “
• Secretary Peyser said, “Brooke succeeds because its teachers and students appreciate the beauty of learning. Now they have a building that matches and is worthy of their accomplishments.”
• Brooke High School Junior, Dailin Morfa, said, “Now I feel like nothing’s stopping me from reaching my goals.”
• A thank you to private philanthropists who have already contributed nearly $9MM towards the school’s ongoing capital campaign
• A performance by the Brooke High School STEP team
• The official ribbon cutting to commemorate the opening of Brooke High School and Eighth Grade Academy.