Braintree Public Schools

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The Braintree Public Schools department, located in Braintree, Massachusetts, includes Hollis Elementary School, Ross Elementary School, Morrison Elementary School, Liberty Elementary School, Flaherty Elementary School (formerly Lakeside Elementary), Highlands Elementary School, Braintree Integrated Preschool, East Middle School, South Middle School, and Braintree High School. Monatiquot Elementary School is a former member of the system.

[edit] District Information

Located ten miles south of Boston, Massachusetts, the suburban town of Braintree (population 33,828) supports a strong business base while retaining an attractive residential character. The town was incorporated in 1640 and is proud of its place in American history. Braintree is the birthplace of two American presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, as well as John Hancock and General Sylvanus Thayer, the founder of West Point.

The town’s location at the intersection of Route 3 and Route I-93 (128) is ideal for commerce, providing easy access to and from the greater Boston area as well as Cape Cod. Residents and visitors can travel between Braintree and Boston on the MBTA Red Line, which originates in Braintree. Housing in Braintree is a mix of established neighborhoods of single-family homes, several new housing developments and some condominium complexes. Numerous office and industrial parks are located in town. The many retail establishments and restaurants include those at the South Shore Plaza, one of the largest shopping centers in the northeast.

Residents are proud of the town’s excellent public school system; families most often cite the schools as their reason for moving to Braintree. The school district is comprised of six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, with a total enrollment of just over 5,000 students. The School Department’s budget was $37,480,407 in FY2005.

Braintree students have a tradition of excelling academically, with 89% of Braintree High School graduates pursing post-secondary studies. Students at all grade levels score well above state and national averages on all measures of standardized testing, including the MCAS and the SAT. Braintree High School offers 18 AP courses; more than a third of the senior class is enrolled in at least one AP course. The high school also receives wide recognition for its athletic program; BHS teams are powerful competitors in the Bay State League. The schools enjoy strong support and involvement from parents, with active parent organizations at each school as well as numerous other opportunities for parents to participate in enhancing the educational program. The district has traditionally demonstrated a commitment to lifelong learning through the many and varied programs offered by the Braintree Continuing Education Program.