Graham and Parks School

The school originated from the merger of two distinct educational institutions in 1981: the Cambridge Alternative Public School (CAPS) and the Webster School. CAPS, established in 1972 by a group of parents, was a small, nationally acclaimed magnet school with a progressive educational philosophy.{{Cite book |last=Greeley |first=Kathy |jstor=jj.16738702 |title=Testing Education: A Teacher's Memoir |date=2024 |publisher=University of Massachusetts Press |isbn=978-1-62534-784-8 |doi=10.2307/jj.16738702}}{{Rp|pages=50–53}} The Webster School was a traditional neighborhood school. Following their consolidation, the unified school operated on Upton Street from 1982 until 2003, after which it relocated to 44 Linnaean Street.{{Cite web |title=Timeline |url=https://grahamandparks.cpsd.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3043838&pageId=3657703 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=grahamandparks.cpsd.us |language=en-US}} The school originally ran from kindergarten through eighth grade; in 2011, the Cambridge School Committee voted to move the sixth through eighth grades into a separate middle school.{{Rp|pages=310–312}}

During the 1980s, the school was approximately half white and half children of color. In the 1990s, as Cambridge became more racially diverse, the proportion of children of color in the school rose to about 60%.{{Rp|pages=33–34}} Approximately half the students at the time were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.{{Cite journal |last=Minicucci |first=Catherine |date=1996 |title=Learning Science and English: How School Reform Advances Scientific Learning for Limited English Proficient Middle School Students |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/47b2x3g3 |journal=Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence |language=en}} In the early 2000s, the school became increasingly white and affluent; by 2007, white families made up more than half the school.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|405069077}} |last1=Jan |first1=Tracy |title=An imbalance grows in Cambridge schools - Placements based on income, not race |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=23 July 2007 |page=A.1 }} As of 2023, the school was 50.3% white, 21.5% Asian, 13.9% Black, and 7.3% multi-racial.{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Data (2023-24) - Graham and Parks (00490080) |url=https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=00490080&orgtypecode=6 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=profiles.doe.mass.edu}}

From its inception, the school prioritized teacher-led curriculum development. Len Solo, who served as the school's principal from its founding until the early 2000s, explained the approach: "We encourage our teachers to develop their own curriculum. In fact, we feel it is a strength of our school. People here have a lot of passion for what they teach. Their excitement inspires kids to learn."{{Rp|page=54}}

A key component of the curriculum for the school's first two decades was the Creole bilingual education program serving Haitian immigrants.{{Cite book |last=Minicucci |first=Catherine |title=The Dimensions of Time and the Challenge of School Reform |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=2000 |pages=60–61 |chapter=Effective Use of Time in the Education of English Language Learners}} The program ended after a statewide referendum in 2002 barred bilingual education programs across Massachusetts.

Since the early 2000s, the curriculum at Graham and Parks has increasingly been determined by district and state mandates. A 2013 article on Graham and Parks in the Berkeley Review of Education described how the efforts of teachers to address the "socio-emotional, developmental, and cultural needs" of students were increasingly in tension with the "narrow limits of the traditional mandates" imposed by the district and state.{{Cite journal |last=Harouni |first=Houman |date=2013 |title=Lived-in Room: Classroom Space as Teacher |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1gn704tw |journal=Berkeley Review of Education |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2 |doi=10.5070/B84110012}}

During the first two decades of its existence, the school did not place an emphasis on standardized test preparation, but its results on statewide tests were nonetheless among the best in Massachusetts.{{Rp|pages=14–17}}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2921605533}} |last1=Duffy |first1=Thomas |title=PUTTING THEIR MINDS TO THE TEST: Schools that scored well on statewide MEAP tests last year share secrets for getting kids to think |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=7 March 1993 |page=A58 }} As of 2024, on the statewide MCAS exams, 54% of students were meeting or exceeding expectations in English language arts and 58% were meeting or exceeding expectations in math.{{Cite web |title=Read MCAS test scores, see ELA, math results by school or district |url=https://apps.bostonglobe.com/metro/2024/09/mcas-scores-schools-districts/database/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=BostonGlobe.com}}

In 2024, parents raised concerns about the hiring and conduct of principal Kathleen M. Smith.Huffaker, Christopher. "Cambridge Elementary School Parents Criticize Superintendent Over Principal Hiring." Boston Globe (Online), Mar 20, 2024. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/19/metro/cambridge-superintendent-parent-complaints-graham-parks/ A petition signed by more than 100 parents called for greater transparency in communication from Smith and greater inclusion of both families and teachers in school decision making.{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Marc |date=2024-02-07 |title=Graham & Parks principal draws an investigation when parents see echoes of problems in Newton |url=https://www.cambridgeday.com/2024/02/07/graham-parks-principal-draws-an-investigation-when-parents-see-echoes-of-problems-in-newton/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Cambridge Day |language=en-US}} Parents faulted Smith for creating a "tense" and "toxic" atmosphere, alleging that teachers and staff felt "targeted" and "disrespected" by the principal.{{Cite web |last=Dippolito |first=Charlie |date=2024-03-11 |title=Letter illustrates a sense of fear and conflict permeating Graham & Parks over principal |url=https://www.cambridgeday.com/2024/03/11/letter-illustrates-a-sense-of-fear-and-conflict-permeating-graham-parks-over-principal/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Cambridge Day |language=en-US}} A public records request revealed that Smith had left her previous position as principal of the Underwood Elementary School in Newton, MA after an investigation concluded that she had created a "toxic working environment" for teachers.Andersen, T. (2024, Feb 27). "Cambridge Elementary School Principal Under Outside Review After Complaints from Parents, Officials Say." Boston Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/27/metro/cambridge-elementary-school-principal-under-review/ Parents faulted district leadership for a lack of transparency and rigor in the hiring process for the principal. The district Superintendent, Victoria Greer, was forced to leave her position after facing criticism for her hiring of Smith and other administrators.Khaw, M., & Huffaker, C. (2024, May 29). "Cambridge School Committee Votes in Favor of Superintendent's Resignation." Boston Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/29/metro/cambridge-superintendent-resign-victoria-greer/ The district then commissioned an investigation of Smith by an outside law firm; the report was not publicly released, but interim Superintendent David Murphy stated that it "does not support a finding of a toxic workplace."Huffaker, C. (2024, Aug 27). "Investigation Clears Cambridge Principal," Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/08/26/metro/cambridge-investigation-graham-parks-kathleen-smith A district-wide survey in 2024 revealed that only 14% of teachers at Graham and Parks described the school as a positive work environment; the result was the lowest of all 12 elementary schools in the district.{{Cite web |title=Superintendent Greer Extends Graham & Parks Principal Contract Despite Teacher Discontent {{!}} News {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/4/18/kathleen-smith-contract-renewed/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}

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