Winship Elementary School - Brighton, MA

The Winship School, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, is distinguished by its remarkable racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Nearly half of our 240 students and their families speak a language other than English in their homes. Our families represent more than 35 countries, including the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Tibet, Italy, Haiti, Poland, Holland, Japan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and more. We have over 20 languages spoken within the school community.

The Winship School celebrates students' identities, interests, and strengths both in and outside the classroom. Our teachers use these strengths to inform their teaching. Over the past four years, the entire Winship community has unified around a vision to cultivate student-centered learning environments that demand rigor, meet students' needs, and guide students in becoming critical thinkers and problem solvers. We do this by closing 1) closely examining student work and student data to improve engagement and achievement 2) designing professional learning around culturally responsive practices that reflect and affirm the linguistic and cultural diversity of our students and 3) sharing best practices and aligning classroom practices that are rigorous, student-centered, and engaging.

In addition, our teachers and staff build deep relationships with students and families to ensure all students feel safe, supported, and included in our community. School-family partnerships and interactive learning experiences are key components that allow students to bring their whole selves and their cultural experiences to the classroom. School partnerships with local organizations, also foster inclusivity and responsible citizenship.