About us
Founded in 1998, Boston Arts Academy (BAA) is an autonomous school within the Boston Public Schools that prepares a diverse community of aspiring artists, scholars, and global citizens for success in their college or professional careers as engaged members of a democratic society. As the city’s only full inclusion public high school for the visual and performing arts, BAA offers a competitive arts and college preparatory education that creates unique opportunities for its students. Over the years, BAA has earned recognition as a leader in arts education from prestigious organizations such as the President’s Council on the Arts and Humanities, The GRAMMY Foundation, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Education Policy Center.
As a full inclusion school, students with learning differences are educated alongside their peers. In line with our educational philosophy, BAA’s admissions process does not take into account academic or behavioral challenges as criteria for admission.
Our Mission
Boston Arts Academy serves as a laboratory and a beacon for artistic and academic innovation, preparing a diverse community of aspiring artist scholars to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society.
At BAA, students are immersed in an environment that fosters innovation, creativity, and personal growth. From redesigned classrooms to collaborative workspaces, we’ve tailored spaces that inspire
students to think, dream, and achieve beyond boundaries. But our work goes far beyond the classroom. We strive to create a nurturing environment that supports students’ emotional and mental health. This
strong, caring community provides a safe and inspiring place for students to make a meaningful impact as scholars, artists, and global citizens.
Shared Values
Community with Social Responsibility
We believe in collaboration, participation and active engagement. Our students take roles, especially leadership roles, inside and outside the classroom to support the health of each other, our community, and environment.
Diversity with Respect
We believe in seeking out and seeing other perspectives through empathy and thoughtful expression. Our students respect and collaborate with students from other neighborhoods, cultures, and majors.
Passion with Balance
We believe in preparation, consistency, and the power of following through. Our students hold themselves to high standards rather it be through their academic work, arts study, or being mindful of others.
Vision with Integrity
We believe in creative risk taking and setting goals that challenge the status quo. Our students own their own process, choices, and behavior to make consistent progress toward where they want to go and who they want to be.
Our Story
1998
Boston Arts Academy was founded when a committed group of educators, parents, and public officials as well as the presidents of the member colleges of Boston’s ProArts Consortium recognized the need for a public arts high school in Boston. BAA was established as a pilot school and the city’s first full inclusion high school – a place that admits students based solely on arts auditions without regard to prior academic, behavioral, or learning challenges.
2004
BAA was the first urban school to receive the National School Library Media Program of the Year award from the American Association of School Librarians. The award recognizes exemplary school library programs that are fully integrated into the school's curriculum.
2009
BAA won the National Schools of Distinction in Arts Education Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education.
2013
BAA was recognized as the Outstanding Arts School by the Arts School Network.
2014
The STEAM (STEM+Art) Lab was opened to establish a maker space/artists’ studio/fabrication laboratory so students could explore the connections between the arts, science, and math, while incorporating new technology into their projects.
2015
BAA was featured in Ken Robinson’s book, Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution that’s Transforming Education.
2016
BAA was a Silver Recognition Recipient from the Schools of Opportunity and won the Signature Enterprise Schools Award from the GRAMMY Foundation.
2018
The ground was broken July 1 for the construction of a new $125 million facility at 174 Ipswich Street, leading to the relocation of both Boston Arts Academy and the Boston Arts Academy Foundation.
2021
On July 1, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and other dignitaries joined Boston Arts Academy (BAA) members for a Topping Off Ceremony at the new $125 million facility at 174 Ipswich Street. The final steel beam, adorned with messages from the BAA community, was raised, marking a milestone in the academy's relocation.
Our Approach
Since its founding, Boston Arts Academy has successfully fostered a culture of student achievement for Boston youth with unprecedented results. We believe that the arts help young people find their voices, build creative problem-solving skills, and engage in meaningful ways with their communities leading to success in college and careers. Our arts curriculum encourages innovation, creative risk-taking, and professionalism.
BAA accepts students based on their commitment to their art and not their academic, behavioral, or learning history. Every day, BAA faculty provide engaging, challenging curricula that connect to our students’ artistic strength and outline clear learning targets that help students understand where they are, where they need to be, and how to get there. BAA students have the opportunity to develop their voices through leadership opportunities, restorative justice practices, and giving back to their communities.
We believe in a holistic education, not only challenging our students through a college preparatory curriculum and competitive arts curriculum, but also addressing their social and emotional needs. BAA has a robust Health and Wellness program that includes on-site individual and group counseling from licensed clinicians. This strong community and caring environment supports students to become artists, scholars, and global citizens, leaders in their communities. Our Shared Values are the guiding principles of BAA’s teaching and learning environment.
Our school serves as the creative junction where life experience meets ambition and intellectual curiosity. We offer unique opportunities in a caring environment for students to grow as artists while preparing them for the next step. More so, students are able to develop their own voices and use them in thoughtful, intentional ways, whether it be for their art or to inspire change.
Expanded Learning Time
We have eight hours of instruction every day at BAA, giving equal weight to both the arts and academics. Our extended learning time provides 300 additional hours per year of comprehensive study and practice.
College Prep
In addition to studying in one of four arts majors, our students’ schedules incorporate a full college preparatory course load, including humanities, mathematics, science, and a foreign language. Students can also obtain college credit at our seven ProArts Consortium colleges.
Growth Mindset
We believe in taking creative risks and setting goals. At BAA, we want our students to challenge the status quo and grow personally as well as professionally so that they can become leaders in their fields of interest as well as their communities.
Full Inclusion
We’re always focused on what our students can do, not what they can’t. Every conversation we have begins with a student’s strengths. As a full inclusion school, students with disabilities learn alongside their peers.
Summer
Summer Reading, Dance and Film programs are offered in partnership with the Boston Public Schools Arts Office and are open to all BPS students. The schedule is flexible. A final showcase is presented at a professional venue. No experience is necessary and all levels are welcome.
Our Community
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Students
Join Our Community
If you’re interested in applying to become a part of our community of artists and scholars, we invite
you to learn more. You can plan to attend one of our upcoming Admissions Presentations, contact us
with any questions, or get started with the application process below.
Board of Trustees
The Boston Arts Academy Board of Trustees serves as BAA’s School Site Council and sets the overall mission, philosophy, policies of the school, and oversees the school budget. Trustees also set the vision and strategic direction for the school, select and evaluate the Head of School, and work to support faculty and staff. The Board is composed of representatives of ProArts Consortium institutions, BAA faculty members, caregivers, one student, and community members with an impressive range of professional expertise. The Board meets at least four times during the school year.
The Role of the Board of Trustees
Pilot schools have freedom to create their own governance structure that has increased decision making powers over budget approval, principal selection and evaluation, and programs and policies, while being mindful of state requirements, including MCAS and school councils.
The school’s governing board takes on increased governing responsibilities, while being mindful of federal and state mandates, including the following:
- Review and approve strategic plans that will give BAA the best chance of thriving and succeeding.
- Provide thoughtful leadership by regularly engaging in generative ideas that create operational excellence, promote innovation, and add value to BAA.
- Set and maintain the school’s vision, mission, and goals
- Fiduciary, strategic, and generative, as well as the selection and evaluation of the BAA Head of School
- Responsible for overseeing BAA’s fiscal well-being in partnership with school leadership.
- Establish a relationship with the school’s assigned School Superintendent
- Ensure compliance with all laws, regulations, codes, court orders, policies, procedures, and directives that relate to the operation of a school within the Boston Public Schools, except to the extent that the BPS has expressly freed the school from such compliance (related to this charge, BPS will send the governing board chairperson all notices regarding Adequate Yearly Progress and other notices regarding the health and welfare of the school)
- Ensure that there is an annual written and approved election-to-work agreement that every BTU member signs prior to the beginning of each school year
- Ensure that the school has a written and approved dispute resolution process in place, that includes appeal to the BPS Superintendent and BTU President as a last resort
- Annually review the school’s progress on indicators of student engagement and achievement, and ensure that there is a plan in place to address gaps.
- Approve major policies of the school
- Meeting the requirements of the Open Meeting Law
Standing Committees
Executive Committee: Holds the overall vision of the strategic plan. Holds dispute resolution process. Chair, Vice Chairs, and chairs of all the committees.
Governance Committee: This committee reviews and refines bylaws and governance, evaluates the Head of School, reviews school policies and approves new policies, reviews committee structure annually, makes adjustments, and orients new board members.
The Nominating Committee recommends new members and officers. The chair or designee of this committee sits on the Governance Committee.
Finance Committee: Oversees the school operating budget and works alongside the BAA Foundation finance committee to work on the annual budget process.
Equity Committee: A BPS-required committee. Holds the school community accountable for current practice at BAA and for BAA’s Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Assesses school practices using the BPS Equity Tool and documents. It comprises students, family members, faculty/staff, and community members.
Meeting Schedule
The board of trustees meets at least four times a year. The current meeting dates, times, agendas, and links to join via Zoom are being finalized for the 2024-2025 school year. The dates and information will be posted here when they become available.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
October 8th, 2024 3:30-5:00
December 17, 2024 3:30-5:00
March 18, 2025 3:30-5:00
June 17, 2025 3:30-5:00
Board Members
Community Representatives
Robert Chambers, Chair, Pro-Arts Rep, Massachusetts College of Art
Dr. Krystal Banfield, Vice Chair, Pro-Arts Rep, Berklee College of Music
Myran Parker-Brass
Sonia Alleyne
Kelly Brilliant
Carole Charnow
Marie St. Fleur
Linda Champion
Dr. David Bogen, Pro-Arts Rep, Berklee College of Music
Kamilah Drummond-Forrester
Tiffany Chan
Amber Torres
Student Government
Destiny Martinez, Student Government President
Leah Baptista-Pires, Student Government Vice President
Legal Counsel
Richard Rudman
Faculty Representatives
Rainbow Chen
Michael Bradley
Raul Garcia
Nicole Mullen
Michael Phaneuf, Alternate Representative
Tyrone Sutton, Head of School
Family Representatives
Ayeesha Lane, Family Council Co-Chair
Stephanie Ruiz, Family Council Co-Chair
Weddee Henry
Randi Ellingboe
Dr. Barbara Rodriguez
Emeritus Trustee
Sandra Gordon
Lee Pelton
Mary Regan
Kay Sloan
ProArts Consortium
Since the Boston Arts Academy was founded in 1998, the ProArts Consortium has remained key partners in our school’s growth and development. The ProArts Consortium is an association of seven internationally known institutions of higher learning that specialize in the visual arts, performing arts, and architecture: Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural College, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Emerson College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, New England Conservatory, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Our ties with the ProArts Consortium enable us to expand educational opportunities and resources for our students. We are proud to have some ProArts faculty teaching our students as well as some of our students obtaining college credit at the ProArts member institutions.
Finance
An exciting new era began with the opening of Boston Arts Academy’s building at 174 Ipswich Street in fall 2022. However beautiful, a new building is only the beginning. A vibrant school needs exceptional faculty and staff. It must be alive with programs, ready to innovate, and provide access to the latest technology and equipment. Boston Arts Academy Foundation helps bridge the gap between the school’s allocation from Boston Public Schools and the true cost of a high-quality education that is both arts-intensive and college preparatory. Donor support ensures that both today and the future are bright for a growing student body of Boston’s most talented young people.
Future plans
Building Our Future
Through the seven-year, Comprehensive Campaign, Boston Arts Academy Foundation is raising $35 million to augment Boston Arts Academy’s school budget and ensure long-term sustainability. The Comprehenive Campaign will close on June 30, 2025 with a goal of $35 million. To date, we have raised more than $27 million.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Mariano Neris II
After BAA, Mariano attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. As a musician, he earned the opportunity to perform with legendary artists such as: Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, George Duke, and the Marsalis brothers to mention a few. Concurrently, his dance career began to sky rocket. Due to demanding schedules from both art forms, Mariano decided to step aside from playing the trumpet as he felt he had accomplished the goals he set for himself at the time and after graduating from Berklee, his focus switched exclusively to dance.
As a dancer, Mariano’s accomplishments consist of championships, tours, sponsorships, and his work with legendary icons in Latin music and dance. His work with artists includes choreographing and performing with Elvis Crespo, NG2, Víctor Manuelle, La India, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Oscar D Leon, Ritchie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Andy Montañez, Tito Nieves, Alexander Abreu, Los Van Van, Tito Allen, and Havana D’primera among others.
Mariano currently lives in Sweden with his life partner, Bella, where he trains dancers all around the world to compete at prestigious dance championships. Notably, Mariano spends a considerable portion of the year on tour; marking his presence at Latin congresses and festivals teaching workshops, performing, choreographing and training aspiring professionals for future competitions.
“For someone who works with different people and companies all year long, it is imperative for me to know how to connect with my audience, it’s embedded in the veins of my work. If I don’t connect, I don’t work, plain and simple. BAA showed me the importance of that, through the arts, which lucky for me is my everyday job.”
– Mariano Neris II
Class of 2011
