Boston College High School will expand its middle school to include sixth grade beginning in fall 2027, extending the Jesuit school’s program to grades 6 through 12.
The Dorchester school announced the move on Wed., May 5 in a press release.
School leaders said the change is intended to strengthen student formation by reaching boys earlier in their development while aligning with the way most Greater Boston districts structure middle school.
The expansion builds on the Arrupe Division, BC High’s middle school program established 20 years ago. The current two-year model for grades 7 and 8 will become a three-year experience on the Morrissey Boulevard campus.
“At BC High, our commitment to cura personalis, the care for the whole person, calls us to meet students earlier in their development,” President Grace Cotter Regan said.
Administrators said starting in sixth grade will give students more time to build academic foundations, friendships, and confidence before entering high school.
The school’s Board of Trustees approved the move in January after more than 18 months of planning and research. An assistant head of the Arrupe Division will be hired to help develop the new sixth-grade curriculum and oversee implementation.
“This decision reflects thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of where education is headed,” Board Chair Paul Donato said.
