Spotlight

A Look at our School Community

Students Continue to Benefit from the High School Placement Program

Neighborhood House Charter School recognized early on that our students and families need assistance navigating the complex high school admissions process and was one of the first charter schools to develop a high school placement program to help students secure places at high quality high schools.

As Class of 2008 8th grade graduate Cheyenne explains, “Without Ms. Wurster [Director of High School Placement and Volunteers] and my High School Placement mentor helping me through the whole process, I wouldn’t have even known about [the competitive private school] Buckingham Browne & Nichols, let alone thought I could get in. But they encouraged me and now I am here!"

Describing the program, Director of High School Placement and Volunteers Jill Wurster explained, “Staff and a corps of volunteers work with students and families on all aspects of the process including raising student and family awareness about high school options, preparing students for interviews, making school visits, completing applications, and securing financial aid and scholarship awards.” The 24 members of Cheyenne’s graduating 8th grade class submitted 224 applications to 32 schools. Nine students matriculated at a private or parochial school; 13 at an exam, charter or pilot school; one at a public school outside of Boston; and one moved out of state.

When students graduate from NHCS they remain members of the school community. “I am in touch with many of our graduates. A lot of them want to do community service at NHCS, come to Town Meeting, visit former teachers, and talk with current students about high school,” says Ms. Wurster. “Alumni are some of the best role models for our current students. Now more than ever our students understand the value of going to a good high school and what it means for their future."