Students fight proposed closure of Charlestown High School

Community members are fighting back against the proposed closing of a Boston high school.

Citing long-term student enrollment projections, Boston Public Schools said Monday that it was considering the closure of Charlestown High School.

At a school committee meeting Wednesday night, students, parents and teachers spoke up against the plan.

Some made the case that their school is more than its enrollment numbers.

“As an immigrant and transgender man, I’ve dealt with bullying, racism and discrimination throughout my entire life, and especially more so during school,” senior Ryeza Harris said at the meeting.

Speaking with NBC10 Boston, Harris said school is somewhere he’s survived.

“This is the only place out of four high schools that I’ve been to — over 10 schools in general that I’ve been to — that I felt safe enough to not have to look over my shoulder every five minutes.”

Other students also pointed to that sense of belonging.

That sense of belonging came up again and again.

The district says enrollment at Charlestown High School has fallen 32% in three years. Only 53% of the building is full, and students with disabilities now make up 45% of the school, which the district says makes it harder to offer inclusive programming.

“Personally, I am struggling with many of the questions you are asking, and thank you for asking them,” said Boston School Committee member Franklin Peralta. “Listening to these students — the love that they have for their community — it fills my heart.”

The Boston Teachers Union says finding out four weeks before a final vote isn’t enough time.

The district says another secondary school could eventually move into the current Charlestown High School building, but which one remains to be seen. BPS says it hopes to know by the spring.

The school committee is expected to vote on whether to close Charlestown High School in one month. If it does close, current students would get priority for new school assignments for the 2028-29 school year.

The district also proposed closing Greater Egleston High School, an alternative education facility with 76 students.