The Engineering School at Hyde Park

Three years ago, Hyde Park High School in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston was divided into three "small schools," each having a particular focus and a mandate to serve a smaller population of students in a more personal way than had been possible in the large comprehensive school model.

The Engineering School was conceived through the efforts of students at Hyde Park who wanted an opportunity to pursue advanced technical and scientific challenges while still in high school. Three years later, the school still has a long way to go, but it has seen a significant decline in dropout rates, and improved prospects for its best students.

The mission of The Engineering School (TES) is to provide a pathway for young women, Latino, and African-American students to national and international careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Family, community alumni, and staff work together to provide academic and social support to ensure the success of our students.  Through a foundation in engineering principles and collaborative external partnerships, TES creates a culture of team-based problem solvers and critical thinkers.  TES graduates are socially responsible, innovative, and able to utilize their learning to impact the larger world in which we live.

Through the 2007-2008 school year, I have worked with Erica Wilson's 12th grade physics and engineering classes at TES, with the following overall goals:

1. To develop a series of cheap and effective demonstrations for the physics class.
2. To work with the seniors in preparing for their capstone experience, the TES Science Fair.
3. To assist with planning, development, and implementation of an advanced physics curriculum.

Click on the links to see how we've done so far.