As summer gasps its last breath, students and parents across the city are preparing to begin a new school year in Boston. I still remember when I was a young student in Boston, the great anticipation I felt at the beginning of each new school year. There were new courses, new teachers and - most of all - new possibilities.

As I prepare to launch my 10th school opening as Mayor, I can tell you with all sincerity that each year I feel that same kind of excitement, that enthusiasm for what lies ahead. That's because every year we see more progress. Test scores are up. Attendance is up. The drop-out rate is down. And more kids are going on to college.

When I first became Mayor, 10 of Boston's 15 high schools were in jeopardy of losing their accreditation, prompting some students to question what their diplomas would be worth upon graduation. I knew that was wrong. It was unacceptable. And change was needed.

So with a lot of hard work - and a $164 million multi-year capital investment - we turned those schools around. We made a lot of changes and our hard work paid off. Today all of Boston's high schools are accredited.

We all want our students to be successful. That not only means making sure that our buildings are well maintained and well equipped, it also means hiring the best, most qualified teachers. This year we had more than 5500 candidates compete for 300 jobs. Because of that strong applicant pool, we were able to select the top 5 percent.

This is the first year that our students need to pass the MCAS in order to graduate. We're doing everything we can to make that happen. More importantly, we want to make sure our students are prepared for productive careers and rewarding lives.

It's been proven that high school students have the greatest chance for success when they are part of small, focused learning communities. With that in mind, we have broken down and restructured our high schools. Our schools-within-schools are designed to create safe environments that will foster strong relationships, and make it easier for teachers to teach and students to learn.

These aren't the only major changes for our high schools. At three schools - East Boston, English, and Hyde Park High - teachers have voted to shift scheduling to allow for longer class periods. This means more time learning in the classroom and less time loitering in the halls.

We're on the right track and others are taking notice. This week I was to announce that the US Department of Education has awarded Boston nearly $4 million to further our high school reform efforts at our district high schools. These two new grants will expand tutoring and mentoring for high school students, personalize advisory services, and allow for outsourcing for certain elective courses.

The DOE is not alone in recognizing Boston for its work with high school reform. The Carnegie and Annenberg Foundations have also demonstrated their confidence in our school system. This year the Carnegie Grant goes into full swing - funding efforts to improve high school literacy, individualize instruction, and reduce student alienation.

.Along with our restructured, district high schools, this fall we open two new high schools in Boston. The former Boston High opens its doors as a pilot school, the Boston Community Leadership Academy; and Boston Tech Academy will greet its first class.

While we're focusing much of our attention on our high schools, we don't want to forget our younger students. Our work with the BTU has resulted in smaller class sizes at every grade level - a $17.5 million investment. Just look at our first and second grades, where class size has gone from 28 in 1996 to 22 this school year. This not only means fewer students in each classroom, but more adults in our schools.

While reducing class size is important, what goes on in the classroom is key. This year, there will be even more going on to support teaching and learning. Our schools will have math and literacy coaches to help teachers discover the most effective teaching methods for the needs of their students.

Those of you who are long-time Boston residents know how difficult it is when the new school year gets off on the wrong foot - with a bus strike, crumbling buildings, lack of common goals for teaching and learning, or high schools at risk of losing their accreditation.

Those days are behind us. This year, we are once again getting off on the right foot - welcoming students and families to our schools for a year full of first-rate educational opportunities. Together I know we will make this another successful academic year in Boston.