Boston Schools Propose Closing Charlestown High in 2028

Charlestown High School could close in June 2028 under a proposal from Boston Public Schools, which says enrollment has fallen sharply. Superintendent Mary Skipper informed the school community on October 30 that the district would bring the plan to the Boston School Committee for consideration on December 2.

Enrollment declined from 820 students in 2023 to 559 in 2026, a drop of about one-third. The district expects the numbers to fall further as smaller groups of students advance through the school: 207 students are currently in grade 12, compared with 48 in grade 7.

If approved, the school would halt enrollment of seventh-grade students beginning next fall, while students in grades 11 and 12 who qualify could finish their studies by June 2028. Students in other grades would receive priority when registering at other schools for the 2028-29 school year.

Mayor Michelle Wu and Skipper said the city and district would work with residents and the school community on a transition. They said they intend to bring another high school into the building for the 2028-29 school year, with the new school reflecting the district’s goals and neighborhood input.

City Councilors Gabriela Coletta and Erin Murphy have sought a hearing on the proposal. Coletta said residents were surprised by the news. Murphy called for clarity on what priority placement would mean and which schools could meet students’ educational and service needs.

Charlestown Families Deserve a Voice Before Their School Closes

Boston Public Schools is moving toward closing Charlestown High School, putting a neighborhood school’s future in question as families seek a meaningful role in deciding what comes next. The district announced its proposal on October 31, 2026, and the School Committee is expected to consider it on December 2.

Enrollment has fallen from 820 students in 2023 to 559 in 2026. The district points to smaller incoming groups, including 48 students in grade 7 compared with 207 in grade 12, to support its case for closure. But those numbers do not answer the practical questions families face about where students will go and whether their needs will be met.

Under the plan, Charlestown High would close on June 30, 2028. Eligible students in grades 11 and 12 could graduate as planned, while students in other grades would receive priority for registration elsewhere. Councilor Erin Murphy has pressed for details on what that priority means and which schools can provide appropriate education and services.

Councilors Murphy and Gabriela Coletta have sought a hearing, with Coletta saying the news came as a shock to residents. Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper say the city and district will work with the community and aim to bring another high school into the building for 2028-29. That pledge does not replace the need for families to have a clear voice and concrete answers before the closure proposal advances.

Enrollment Decline Drives Boston Proposal to Close Charlestown High

Boston Public Schools is proposing to close Charlestown High School after enrollment fell by about one-third in three years. The district’s figures make the central challenge plain: 559 students attend in 2026, down from 820 in 2023, and the school has 48 seventh graders compared with 207 seniors.

The district expects enrollment to decline further as smaller cohorts move through the school. Its proposal would end the school’s operation on June 30, 2028, while allowing eligible students in grades 11 and 12 to graduate. Students in other grades would receive priority to register at other schools for the following year.

The School Committee is expected to consider the plan on December 2. Councilors Gabriela Coletta and Erin Murphy have requested a hearing, and Murphy has asked the district to explain what priority placement would mean for students.

Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper say they understand the strong emotions involved and will work with residents and the school community. They intend to transition another high school into the building for the 2028-29 school year. Community input matters, but calls for more process should not obscure the enrollment figures driving the district’s proposal or the need to plan for students as the school’s numbers continue to fall.