About us

About Us

The mission of the Mason Pilot Elementary School is to provide a comprehensive and rigorous full inclusion academic program supported by committed teachers, staff, teacher interns, devoted parents, and a strong community working collaboratively and learning together.

We will provide for our students:

Multiple educational experiences for every learner to develop his or her best academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
High expectations for achievement, behavior, and positive social interactions for everyone.
Research-based, cutting-edge, challenging curriculum and instruction which meets the individual needs of each child in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science, and technology.
A positive and respectful school culture that is nurturing, supportive, honors diversity, and celebrates one another's achievements and accomplishments.
Opportunities for parents and families to be active partners in their children's education and in our educational community.
Ongoing student assessment that informs and guides teaching and learning for each student.

A History of the Mason:

Samuel W. Mason Elementary School transformed itself from the "least chosen elementary school" in 1990 to the first school ever to win the prestigious City of Boston Management Excellence Award in 1994, the U.S. Department of Education Model Professional Development Award in 1996, and the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award in 1997. Located in the troubled Roxbury neighborhood of the city, the student population is ethnically diverse (45 percent African American, 23 percent Cape Verdean, 15 percent Latino, 13 percent Caucasian, 2 percent Asian American, and 2 percent Native American); 91 percent qualify for the free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs, and 23 percent are recent immigrants to this country and come from homes in which no English is spoken.

Mason had been slated for closure when its staff and parents seized an opportunity to become part of the National Accelerated Schools Network. They reached out to the City of Boston departments, businesses, universities, a health center, and community organizations to become partners in transforming the school through teamwork and collaboration.

A year later, the Mason School used the flexibility afforded by the Chapter One Program to change its focus from remediation to acceleration. The schoolwide project created an interdependent team from formerly disparate programs. As a result, a consistent learning approach reaches all students, accelerates learning, and promotes thinking skills; the amount of time spent in reading instruction per grade has been doubled. The project is supplemented by a 5-day-a-week after-school program, a 6-week full-day summer school program, a school-based counseling and therapy program, parent education and training, portfolio assessment for all students, and extensive professional development opportunities.

	About Us The mission of the Mason Pilot Elementary School is to provide a comprehensive and rigorous full inclusion academic program supported by committed teachers, staff, teacher interns, devoted parents, and a strong community working collaboratively and learning together. *We will provide for our students:* Multiple educational experiences for every learner to develop his or her best academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. High expectations for achievement, behavior, and positive social interactions for everyone. Research-based, cutting-edge, challenging curriculum and instruction which meets the individual needs of each child in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science, and technology. A positive and respectful school culture that is nurturing, supportive, honors diversity, and celebrates one another's achievements and accomplishments. Opportunities for parents and families to be active partners in their children's education and in our educational community. Ongoing student assessment that informs and guides teaching and learning for each student. *A History of the Mason:* Samuel W. Mason Elementary School transformed itself from the "least chosen elementary school" in 1990 to the first school ever to win the prestigious City of Boston Management Excellence Award in 1994, the U.S. Department of Education Model Professional Development Award in 1996, and the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award in 1997. Located in the troubled Roxbury neighborhood of the city, the student population is ethnically diverse (45 percent African American, 23 percent Cape Verdean, 15 percent Latino, 13 percent Caucasian, 2 percent Asian American, and 2 percent Native American); 91 percent qualify for the free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs, and 23 percent are recent immigrants to this country and come from homes in which no English is spoken. Mason had been slated for closure when its staff and parents seized an opportunity to become part of the National Accelerated Schools Network. They reached out to the City of Boston departments, businesses, universities, a health center, and community organizations to become partners in transforming the school through teamwork and collaboration. A year later, the Mason School used the flexibility afforded by the Chapter One Program to change its focus from remediation to acceleration. The schoolwide project created an interdependent team from formerly disparate programs. As a result, a consistent learning approach reaches all students, accelerates learning, and promotes thinking skills; the amount of time spent in reading instruction per grade has been doubled. The project is supplemented by a 5-day-a-week after-school program, a 6-week full-day summer school program, a school-based counseling and therapy program, parent education and training, portfolio assessment for all students, and extensive professional development opportunities.