Beacon Academy

Beacon Academy is a Roslindale school that runs a 10-year program for determined, inquisitive students from historically under-resourced and underrepresented communities. Students spend a full academic year at the Academy after eighth grade, sharpening academic skills and building the confidence to thrive at competitive independent high schools. Each year it accepts 18 to 24 students, who apply to private high schools with the potential to receive full scholarships.

Founder Cindy Laba conceived the school while working at a Boston charter school, where only 7 percent of freshmen passed all their first-quarter classes. She launched it with founding board chair Marsha Feinberg at Temple Israel of Boston. Today students come from across Boston and surrounding areas to a spacious building in Roslindale for discussion-based classes, current technology, SSAT tutoring, mentors and an academic advisor who guides them through the high school application process.

What to Know

• Support continues for nine or more years after the Academy year, through high school, college and early careers.
• All alumni of the 10-year program from the classes of 2017 through 2022 graduated from high school.
• The school raises all of its operating funds from individual donors, corporations and foundations.
• Prospective families can attend open house events.