Grades PK–12 Superintendent Michael Welch Budget $35,979,808 (FY17) Number of students 2,776 | Established 1644 Asst. Superintendent(s) Cindy Kelly Founded 1644 Schools 7 | |
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School board Steve Bilafer, Mayanne Briggs, Kevin Coughlin, Lisa Laprade, Tom Ryan, Susan Walko, Tracy White | ||
The Dedham Public School System (Dedham Public Schools) is a PK–12 graded school district in Massachusetts. It is the oldest public school system in the United States.
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History
On January 1, 1644, by unanimous vote, the Town of Dedham authorized the first taxpayer-funded public school in the United States, "the seed of American education." Other schools, including Boston Latin School and the Town of Rehoboth make similar claims, but Dedham's was the first to be supported exclusively by tax dollars. The first schoolhouse was built in present-day Dedham Square near the First Church by Thomas Thurston.
Its first teacher, Rev. Ralph Wheelock, was paid 20 pounds annually to instruct the youth of the community. Descendants of these students would become presidents of Dartmouth College, Yale University and Harvard University.
While living in Dedham, Horace Mann served on the School Committee.
Closed schools
There are three schools that have closed within the current borders of the Town of Dedham: the Ames School, the Quincy School, and the Dexter School. The Ames School building was sold and is currently an office building in Dedham Square and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Quincy School in East Dedham was used until 1982 and later sold to a developer. The Dexter School in Upper Dedham is still owned by the School Department but is leased out to private companies and The Education Collaborative.
Schools
The district operates seven schools. The Early Childhood Education Center housed at the Capen School serves students in pre-school and kindergarten. There are four neighborhood elementary schools: Avery, Greenlodge, Oakdale, and Riverdale. All four elementary schools feed into Dedham Middle School which houses grades six, seven, and eight, and Dedham High School serves students in grades nine through 12.
Dr. Thomas Curran Early Childhood Education Center
The Dr. Thomas Curran Early Childhood Education Center is located at the Capen School and serves children in pre-school and kindergarten. The principal is Paul Sullivan.
Avery School
The Avery School, located at 336 High Street, was opened in 2012 and serves children from East Dedham and some from Oakdale. Previously it was located down the street in a building currently used as the Mother Brook Arts and Community Center. The principal is Clare Sullivan.
Greenlodge School
The Greenlodge School, located at 191 Greenlodge St, was opened in the 1950s and serves children from the Greenlodge and Manor neighborhoods. Principal Philip Banios began in 2013.
Oakdale School
The Oakdale School, located at 147 Cedar St, was opened in 1902 and serves children from Oakdale. The principal is Holli Armstrong.
Riverdale School
The Riverdale School, located at 143 Needham St, was opened in the 1920s and serves children from Riverdale and Upper Dedham.
Dedham Middle School
The Dedham Middle School, located at 70 Whiting Avenue, was opened in 2007 and has Dr. Margo Fraczek as interim principal. Every student is issued a Google Chromebook. Previously it was housed in a since demolished building next door.
Dedham High School
Dedham High School was founded in 1851 and in 2013 earned a silver medal from U.S. News & World Report, one of only 30 schools in Massachusetts do to so.
In recent years the school has seen tremendous growth in both the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses and in qualifying scores on the exams. The schools athletic program offers 26 varsity sports with a mascot known as the Marauders, and 26 co-curricular clubs and activities. Each student also receives a personal computer from the school, either a netbook or an iPad.
Associated organizations
The Dedham High School Alumni Association keeps graduates of the High School connected to the school and supports the current students and teachers.
The Dedham Education Foundation distributes funds from their endowment to award grants to teachers for or classroom activities or other teacher initiatives and ideas. These include including storytellers, authors-in-residence, art enrichment, literacy and reading programs, social skills programs, and other multi-cultural programs. The Foundation has funded field trips such as Museum of Science, Plimoth Plantation, and The Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Funds have been provided for student performances including live theater productions, drama club, and both the middle and high school choruses. Also, Science Museum presentations and learning kits have been made available through Foundation funding.
The Dedham Educational Partnership works to strengthen the home and school partnership by providing e-mail newsletters for each of the schools' Parent-Teacher Organizations.