Programs & Initiatives

ACE is an innovative, competency-based program at Brookline High School for up to 50 students entering grades 10–12 who may find greater intellectual satisfaction and academic success in a non-traditional learning environment.

ACE provides a rigorous college-preparation pathway in which students are placed in multi-age classes based on skill level and can progress at their own pace. Students graduate once they complete the required content and skill competencies.

For more information, contact Amy Bayer or visit the ACE Program website (opens in new tab).

The African-American & Latino Scholars Program (AALSP) at Brookline High School is designed to promote a culture of high achievement among students of color. The program supports Brookline High School’s goal of ensuring that academic achievement reflects the diversity of its student body.

This program is generously supported by the BHS Innovation Fund.

For more information, contact Stephanie Hunt or visit the AALSP program pages.

B-CASA is a community coalition focused on addressing the underlying factors that contribute to teen substance use and promoting healthy, informed choices among young people.

The organization works to counter the culture of acceptance surrounding underage alcohol and substance use through education, prevention strategies, and community engagement.

Learn more about B-CASA

Brookline Tutorial is a one-credit course that provides content-area academic support for students in grades 10–12 with the goal of maximizing student achievement.

Each class section includes approximately ten students and two content-area teachers, meeting four times per week within a supportive learning community.

In collaboration with their Tutorial teachers, students:

• Set goals to improve academic performance
• Develop effective study strategies
• Strengthen organization and learning skills
• Build independent academic habits

Class time is divided between:

• Personalized consultation — where teachers help students identify more effective and efficient study habits
• Independent practice — where students apply and practice recommended strategies

For more information, contact Joanne Burke.

The BRYT (Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition) Program provides short-term, intensive support for students returning to school after extended mental health or medical-related absences, including recovery from concussions.

The program’s goal is to help students transition back to full-time classroom participation by providing:

• Clinical support
• Academic support
• Family support
• Care coordination

BRYT is available to all students enrolled at Brookline High School. Enrollment requires a referral from a student’s Dean or Guidance Counselor.

For more information, contact BRYT Clinical Coordinator, Jillian Kelley.

Learn more about the BRYT Program

Fostering Excellence in Mathematics program is a public education initiative focused on increasing the number of African American and Latino students who enroll and succeed in advanced mathematics courses at Brookline High School, culminating in the study of calculus during senior year.

The program begins in middle school and continues throughout high school, offering targeted academic supports and enrichment opportunities designed to strengthen student achievement in mathematics.

Key components of the program include:

• Summer preview courses that support skill building, reduce summer learning loss, and introduce key mathematical concepts for upcoming coursework
• After-school tutoring during the academic year is led by highly qualified mathematics teachers
• Student cohorts that foster community, academic confidence, peer support, and a shared goal of progressing toward calculus

FEx works to create a supportive and inclusive academic culture while expanding access to advanced mathematics opportunities.

For more information or to learn how to participate, contact:

• Meghan Kennedy-Justice
• Lisa Rodriguez

Global Leadership is an unleveled course open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Brookline High School.

The course is designed to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century and inspire leadership that promotes a more peaceful, equitable, and interconnected world.

Global Leadership is a project-based course in which students work collaboratively to design initiatives that address real-world global challenges, including:

• Increasing access to clean water in Brookline’s sister city in Nicaragua
• Developing HIV/AIDS awareness and support initiatives in low-income countries
• Designing humanitarian responses in crisis regions
• Creating pro-democracy advocacy campaigns

The course also features distinguished guest speakers who model leadership and global engagement in their professional work.

Students are expected to actively engage with current global events, conflicts, and humanitarian issues as they unfold in real time.

For more information, contact Roger Grande or visit the Global Leadership website.

The Public Schools of Brookline is a charter member of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), a voluntary desegregation program founded in 1966.

METCO provides K–12 educational opportunities for more than 300 students from Boston who attend Brookline public schools.

METCO students participate fully in the academic, athletic, artistic, and extracurricular life of Brookline schools and are supported by the METCO Director and staff throughout their educational experience.

For more information, contact Karim Azeb.

School-Within-A-School (SWS) is a democratic educational program at Brookline High School for students in grades 10–12.

The program includes approximately 120 students and eight staff members who share in decision-making and community governance.

Within SWS, students take courses in:

• English
• Social Studies
• Biology
• Chemistry

Students also participate in a weekly “Town Meeting” class that supports community dialogue, collaboration, and shared leadership.

SWS functions as a separate administrative unit within Brookline High School and is led by a Coordinator who also serves as the program counselor.

For more information, visit the SWS website or contact Dan Bresman.

The Brookline High School Program in Social Justice Leadership prepares students to become informed advocates and lifelong leaders for social change.

The program is designed to address the decline in civic engagement while responding to students’ growing interest in social justice education, advocacy, and community action.

Participating students explore core social justice values, including:

• Commitment
• Courage
• Compassion
• Humility
• Praxis

Students develop a personal social justice mission statement while participating in a variety of experiential learning opportunities, including:

• Bi-weekly seminars
• Online blogging and journaling
• Leadership and advocacy training
• Internships with local social justice organizations

The program emphasizes collective responses to injustice and encourages students to pursue meaningful, long-term social transformation rather than temporary solutions to social issues.

The Program in Social Justice Leadership is supported by The 21st Century Fund and is open to juniors and seniors who demonstrate maturity, commitment, and a strong interest in participation.

For more information, contact Roger Grande.

Steps to Success (STS) is a comprehensive educational achievement program that provides academic support, social development opportunities, and family support services primarily for students living in Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) communities.

Working with students in grades 4–12, the program helps students access opportunities that support long-term success and prepare them for meaningful postsecondary pathways, including:

• College
• Vocational training
• Employment opportunities
• Other career and life pathways

The program’s goal is to help students maximize their options for a successful and dignified next step after graduating from Brookline High School.

For more information, visit the Steps to Success website 

The Whipple Writing Fellowship provides Brookline High School students who are passionate about writing with opportunities to develop and expand their skills as writers.

As Whipple Fellows, students:

• Join a supportive cohort of aspiring writers
• Receive a stipend to support their creative work
• Learn from professional writers representing a variety of writing styles and disciplines
• Develop an original piece of writing for public presentation and publication submission

Each year, eight Whipple Fellows are selected through a spring application process and complete the fellowship by the end of the summer.

In addition to the summer fellowship, the program offers writing workshops throughout the school year to help students continue strengthening their writing skills.

Learn more about the Whipple Writing Fellowship

Year-long program discontinued

The mission of the Brookline High School China Exchange Program is to foster personal connections and promote mutual cultural understanding between the people of China and the United States.

Each year, the program brings a group of students and a teacher from Gao Xin School in Xi’an, China, to Brookline High School for a semester exchange, while a comparable group from Brookline High School studies at Gao Xin School.

The China Exchange Program provides students with opportunities for personal growth through:

• Increased cultural awareness
• Foreign language development
• International educational experiences
• Independent learning and personal growth

Since its founding in 1999, the program has strengthened relationships among students, educators, families, school leaders, and community members in both Brookline and Xi’an.

The exchange program also serves as a meaningful symbol of the value both communities place on global understanding and international connection in an increasingly interconnected world.

For more information, visit the BHS China Exchange Website or contact Steve Lantos.