Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA) alumni have been describing the school as “unique” and a “solution” since it opened its doors in 1995 as the Downtown Evening Academy, Boston’s first diploma-granting evening public school. Today, BDEA maintains its status as both a unique school, and a solution to the pervasive and dangerous problem of dropping out of high school. BDEA is characterized by its ability to meet students where they are in their education when they enroll. In 1998, the school became a Horace Mann Charter School. In 2002, BDEA added a Distance Learning Program to its existing Evening Program so that students who could not come to school on a regular basis due to health and family issues, full-time employment and parenting, could earn a diploma through our competency based curriculum. It was in 2004 when Boston Day and Evening Academy realized its full comprehensive structure with the addition of the Day Program, enabling any student willing to work for a diploma to earn one. BDEA continues to open its doors from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 at night, and welcome students from all programs to take advantage of its academic and non-academic services throughout the day. BDEA has expanded not only its programs but also its national recognition as an alternative school making a difference. In 2003, BDEA was awarded full membership into the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES), thereby joining a select group of schools nation-wide that are informing the conversation around education reform. The mission of the CES is to transform American public education so that every child in every neighborhood, regardless of race or class, attends a small, vibrant, intellectually challenging, personalized school. The school also welcomes visitors from all over the world, that hail from educational institutions, public school districts, universities, and the private sector. Currently, BDEA serves 370 students across its three programs, and has nearly 600 alumni.
Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA) alumni have been describing the school as “unique” and a “solution” since it opened its doors in 1995 as the Downtown Evening Academy, Boston’s first diploma-granting evening public school. Today, BDEA maintains its status as both a unique school, and a solution to the pervasive and dangerous problem of dropping out of high school. BDEA is characterized by its ability to meet students where they are in their education when they enroll. In 1998, the school became a Horace Mann Charter School. In 2002, BDEA added a Distance Learning Program to its existing Evening Program so that students who could not come to school on a regular basis due to health and family issues, full-time employment and parenting, could earn a diploma through our competency based curriculum. It was in 2004 when Boston Day and Evening Academy realized its full comprehensive structure with the addition of the Day Program, enabling any student willing to work for a diploma to earn one. BDEA continues to open its doors from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 at night, and welcome students from all programs to take advantage of its academic and non-academic services throughout the day. BDEA has expanded not only its programs but also its national recognition as an alternative school making a difference. In 2003, BDEA was awarded full membership into the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES), thereby joining a select group of schools nation-wide that are informing the conversation around education reform. The mission of the CES is to transform American public education so that every child in every neighborhood, regardless of race or class, attends a small, vibrant, intellectually challenging, personalized school. The school also welcomes visitors from all over the world, that hail from educational institutions, public school districts, universities, and the private sector. Currently, BDEA serves 370 students across its three programs, and has nearly 600 alumni.
