News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

For Immediate Release
Monday, February 28, 2011
Contact:	JC Considine 781-338-3112

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Approves 16 New Charter Schools

MALDEN - The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to grant charters to the founders of 16 proposed charter schools at its regular meeting on Monday. A total of 42 charter school prospectuses were submitted during the 2010-11 cycle last August, and applicants for 25 of those 42 prospectuses were invited by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit final proposals for consideration in September 2010. A total of 23 final applications were submitted in November. Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester recommended that the Board approve 17 new charters from the group of 23 finalists. The new charter schools include: 13 Commonwealth Charter Schools:

The Alma del Mar Charter School will open in Fall 2011. The school will be located in New Bedford and will enroll a maximum of 360 students in grades K-8.
The Bridge Boston Charter School will open in Fall 2011 and will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 335 students in grades K1-8.
Community day Charter Public School - Riverside will open in Fall 2012. The school will be located in Lawrence and will enroll a maximum of 400 students in grades K1-8.
Community Day Charter Public School - South will open in Fall 2012 and will be located in Lawrence. The school will enroll a maximum of 400 students in grades K1-8.
Dorchester Preparatory Charter School will open in Fall 2012 and will be located in Boston. The school will enroll a maximum of 600 students in grades 5-12.
Edward W. Brooke Charter School 2 will open in Fall 2011 and will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 475 students in grades K-8.
Edward W. Brooke Charter School 3 will open in Fall 2012 and will be a regional school serving Boston and Chelsea. The school will enroll a maximum of 475 students in grades K-8.
Excel Academy Charter School - Boston II will open in Fall 2012. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 448 students in grades 5-12.
Excel Academy Charter School - Chelsea will open in Fall 2011 and will be located in Chelsea and will enroll a maximum of 224 students in grades 5-8.
Grove Hall Preparatory Charter School will open in Fall 2011. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 600 students in grades 5-12.
KIPP Academy Boston Charter School will open in Fall 2012. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 588 students in grades K-8.
MATCH Community Day Charter Public School will open in Fall 2011. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 700 students in grades K1-12.
Veritas Preparatory Charter School will open in Fall 2012 and will be located in Springfield and will enroll a maximum of 324 students in grades 5-8.

3 Horace Mann Charter Schools:

Boston Green Academy will open in Fall 2011. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 595 students in grades 6-12.
Salem Community Charter School will open in Fall 2011 and will be located in Salem and will enroll a maximum of 125 students in grades 9-12.
UP Academy will open in Fall 2011. The school will be located in Boston and will enroll a maximum of 500 students in grades 6-8.

The Board rejected a proposal for Lynn Preparatory Charter School, a proposed Commonwealth charter school that would have served a maximum of 324 students in grades K-8. Commonwealth charter schools operate independently of the local school district. Horace Mann charter schools are developed and operated in close cooperation with the host school district, and require approval of the local school committee.

Last Updated: February 28, 2011