Mission Hill K 8 School

The Mission Hill K-8 School (MHS) is a Boston Public School, located in Roxbury and serving children in grades K-8 with approximately one hundred and seventy students. Founded in 1997 by Deborah Meier, who retired from her position as co-principal, but remains on the staff as Director of New Ventures, MHS is a democratically-run school directed by the principal, Ayla Gavins. Its core faculty maintain responsibility for all major curriculum, staffing, and scheduling decisions. The Mission Hill progressive educational model consists of multi-age classrooms that typically consist of no more than 20 students and with most children spending two years with the same teacher. The model also incorporates inclusive classroom learning environments. The typical school day at Mission Hill School begins and ends with classroom meeting to set the agenda and review work. Otherwise there are only brief whole-class mini-lessons; most work is done individually or in small groups. About half the day is set aside for thematic work, which may include reading and writing, research, art and construction, and practical mathematical applications. All classes set aside time for read-alouds, silent reading, and writing workshop, as well as a specific mathematics period. Community service is also a part of the curriculum, and middle-school aged children participate in a program that places them in different internships in the area.