15 Years + Beyond!:

Our Strategic Plan

Since our founding in 2011, Bridge Boston Charter School has been steadfast in its commitment to remove barriers to learning for children facing adversity. After 15 years of incredible success, we’re taking our mission one step further.

Our 10-year strategic plan commits to putting every member of the Bridge community, including students, families, and staff, on a path to economic liberty.

Rooted in a joyful and inclusive learning environment, Bridge Boston’s mission is to create opportunities for every member of our community to achieve long-term success and fulfillment. Our whole-child approach and commitment to wraparound services make Bridge unique among its Boston charter school peers.

Here at Bridge, we are redefining success in public education. Our new strategy aligns our programs with research-backed pathways to economic mobility. It positions all members of the Bridge community to choose meaningful work, build strong networks, and manage finances with confidence. Through this approach, Bridge Boston’s new strategic plan seeks to not only improve educational outcomes, but also transform life trajectories. 

Why “Economic Liberty”?

Economic inequality has grown dramatically in Boston. From 2010 to 2020, housing costs for the city’s lowest-income residents rose 42%, while their incomes increased by only 12%. White households have a median net worth of $250,000; for Black households, it’s just $8. Educational outcomes have simultaneously declined, with proficiency rates across Boston Public Schools now below 30% in both math and ELA.

Bridge is proud of its academic and engagement gains, but our community is asking for more. Through empathy interviews with nearly 100 caregivers, ongoing staff design work, and a comprehensive research review, we’ve identified the need to go beyond academics to focus on the critical levers of long-term economic opportunity.

What Does “Economic Liberty” Look Like?

By 2034, Bridge Boston will ensure our students, families, + staff can:

• Choose and retain meaningful, well-paid work
• Build and activate community and personal networks
• Manage finances to achieve goals and weather hardship

Rather than layering new programs on top of existing ones, Bridge is reorienting the entire school around this bold vision. That means aligning our current work with outcomes that matter and investing in new strategies where gaps exist. We’re conducting research, auditing programs, and engaging families + staff to determine which investments will have the greatest impact. Some of our initiatives include competitive compensation + opportunities for advancement for our educators, school readiness intervention for our youngest students, high school placement + algebra for our oldest students, and providing opportunities for adult education on subjects like financial planning, job training, and ESOL for our families.

Here at Bridge Boston, we know we can do more than just prepare students for high school; we can mobilize our entire community for long-term economic success. Bridge Boston is only able to make bold decisions for our future because of our history: we have 15 years of inspiring founders, committed staff, + proud community members to rely on as we charge into the next steps.