Finding the right fit for a teenager in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) system feels like a high-stakes gamble. You’ve got the prestigious exam schools that everyone fights over, and then you’ve got everything else. Somewhere in the middle of that conversation is Excel High School Boston. It's a place that gets talked about a lot in South Boston, but honestly, people usually get the details wrong.
It’s located on G Street. Right in the heart of Southie.
If you walk past the building, it looks like your classic, sturdy New England schoolhouse. But inside? It’s a mix of massive challenges and some pretty cool success stories that don't make the front page of the Globe. Excel is a Title I school. That basically means a huge chunk of the student body comes from low-income backgrounds. Because of that, the school gets extra federal funding, but it also faces the uphill battle of systemic inequality that hits urban districts hard.
The Reality of the Excel High School Boston Turnaround
For a long time, Excel was struggling. Hard.
A few years back, the state actually designated it as a "Level 4" underperforming school. That’s a heavy label to carry. It means the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) was watching every move. They had to implement a "turnaround plan." You might hear educators call it "transformation," but for the kids in the hallways, it just meant more rules, new faces, and a lot of pressure to get test scores up.
Does it work? Sometimes.
The graduation rate has seen some shifts. According to recent BPS data, Excel has worked to stabilize its environment. They focused on "Small Learning Communities." Think of it as making a big school feel smaller. If you're a freshman, you aren't just thrown into the deep end with 18-year-olds; you're part of a cohort. This isn't just some buzzword. It's a survival tactic. When a teacher knows your name and knows why you were late three days in a row, you’re less likely to drop out.
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Vocational Programs: The Hidden Gem
People think high school is just about SATs and Shakespeare. At Excel High School Boston, they’ve leaned into something else: Career and Technical Education (CTE).
This is where the school actually shines. They have a Design and Visual Communications program. It's legit. Students aren't just doodling; they are learning industry-standard software. There is also a focus on health careers. In a city like Boston, which is basically the world capital of hospitals and biotech, having a head start in health sciences is a massive advantage.
I've talked to people who graduated from these programs. They didn't all go to Harvard. Some went straight to work. Others went to Bunker Hill Community College or UMass Boston. And that’s okay. The narrative that every kid needs a four-year private degree is starting to crumble, and Excel is a place where that reality is accepted and managed.
Safety, Culture, and the "Southie" Factor
Let’s be real for a second. South Boston has changed.
The neighborhood is gentrifying at a breakneck pace. You have million-dollar condos across the street from public housing projects. Excel High School Boston sits right at the intersection of that tension. The student body is incredibly diverse. We’re talking about a mix of Black, Hispanic, and White students, many of whom are English Language Learners (ELL).
Safety is always the first question parents ask. "Is it safe?"
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Look, it’s a city school. There are incidents. There are fights. But the "danger" is often exaggerated by people who haven't stepped foot in a BPS building since 1995. The school uses a "Restorative Justice" model. Instead of just suspending every kid who acts out, they try to mediate. It’s controversial. Some teachers think it’s too soft. Some parents think it’s the only way to keep kids in school. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
What the Teachers Are Dealing With
The turnover at schools like Excel can be high. It’s a tough gig.
Teachers here aren't just teaching Algebra; they're often acting as social workers. They deal with trauma. They deal with the housing crisis in Boston. When a student’s family gets priced out of Southie and has to move to Brockton, but the kid still tries to commute to Excel? That’s a burden the teacher carries too.
Despite that, there are "lifers" at Excel. Educators who have been there through the Level 4 designation, through the pandemic, and through the various leadership changes. They are the backbone of G Street. Without them, the whole thing would have folded a decade ago.
College Prep vs. Real Life
Excel is part of the MassCore curriculum. This is the state's recommended program of study to get kids ready for college. They offer AP courses. Not as many as Boston Latin, obviously, but they're there.
- AP English
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Statistics
If a student is motivated, they can get the credits. But the school also has a strong partnership with organizations like ACCESS and Bottom Line. These groups help first-generation college students navigate the nightmare that is the FAFSA and college applications.
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One thing most people don't realize: Excel has a pretty robust athletic program. The Blue Devils. Football, basketball, softball. In a city where a lot of kids feel invisible, being on a team matters. It's often the only reason some of these kids show up on Monday morning.
The Verdict: Is It a Good School?
That’s a loaded question. Honestly, it depends on what you need.
If you’re looking for a private-school experience with small classes and a rowing team, Excel isn't it. If you want a school that reflects the actual world—with all its messy, complicated, diverse problems and opportunities—then Excel is doing the work. It’s a place of grit.
The school still faces challenges with chronic absenteeism. That’s the big elephant in the room. If kids don’t show up, they don’t learn. BPS has been pouring resources into "attendance officers," but you can't just force a kid to care. The school has to give them a reason to be there. The vocational programs are that reason for a lot of them.
Comparing Excel to Other Boston High Schools
| School Type | Focus | Student Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Schools | Academic Rigor | High pressure, competitive |
| Excel High | Vocational & Support | Practical, diverse, resilient |
| Pilot Schools | Innovation | Flexible, teacher-led |
Excel doesn't try to be something it's not. It’s a neighborhood school that has been forced to evolve. It’s not perfect. The test scores are still a work in progress. But the "failure" label that people love to slap on urban schools doesn't tell the whole story. It doesn't tell you about the kid who learned to code in the tech lab or the girl who's the first in her family to head to UMass because a guidance counselor wouldn't stop bugging her about her essays.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Students
If you're considering Excel High School Boston, don't just look at the GreatSchools rating. Those numbers are a snapshot of poverty, not necessarily a snapshot of teaching quality.
- Schedule a Visit: You have to see the hallways during a passing period. Feel the energy. Talk to the principal. Ask specifically about the CTE (vocational) pathways.
- Check the ELL Services: If your student is still learning English, Excel has specific programming for that. Ask about the "SEI" (Sheltered English Immersion) classrooms.
- Look at the Partnerships: Ask which non-profits are active in the building. A school's strength in Boston is often measured by its friends—like the Boys & Girls Club or local trades unions.
- Review the IEP Support: If your child has a learning disability, Excel has a significant special education department. Get the specifics on "Inclusion" vs. "Sub-separate" settings.
- Talk to the Coaches: If your kid plays sports, that’s your entry point. Coaches at Excel often know more about the school’s true culture than the administrators do.
Excel High School Boston is a microcosm of the city itself. It’s transitioning. It’s struggling in some spots and thriving in others. It’s a place where the "Southie" of the past meets the incredibly diverse future of Boston. It isn't for everyone, but for the kids who find their niche in the design lab or on the basketball court, it's exactly what they need.