STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF CITY ON A HILL CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

 

Following discussions with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), City on a Hill (CoaH) Charter Public School has made the difficult decision not to seek renewal of our charter, and will voluntarily close the school at the end of the next school year - June 30, 2025. 

We have informed our families of this decision, and are committed to ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition for our students, teachers, and staff. 

 

We have developed a detailed plan to transition to an upper school model, allowing current 10th and 11th grade students the option to remain at CoaH for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students who stay will access the full academic program and opportunities they expect, including dual enrollment at Roxbury Community College and continued full access to our College & Career Counseling staff. Every student in both of these classes will also receive a scholarship for their post-secondary placements, whether a 2-year college, 4-year college, or trade program.

 

The school’s current 9th graders will be assisted with placement at another charter or district school. CoaH will not be accepting a new 9th grade class for the fall of 2024. Our current 12th grade class will not be affected.

CoaH is committed to supporting teachers and staff during this transition, including retention bonuses for teachers who remain in their roles and job placement assistance. 

 

We understand this news will come as a disappointment to our community, and we want to underscore that this decision was not made lightly. We have worked closely as a community over the past 30 years to provide high quality academic and support services to the thousands of children who have come through our doors. Enrollment trends, which are affecting schools across the city and state, along with the City on a Hill’s charter probationary status and leadership turnover, have led the Board to evaluate the School’s ability to provide a strong program for students past June 2025. 

 

We will work to ensure that our community comes together to provide a supportive experience for our students, and to work with each individual family to support their child’s transition to a high-quality school in the community.