Participants

The districts participating in the grants are very diverse. Brockton, the largest district, has a student population of 16,869 in a city of 94,304 residents, with over 18 languages represented in the school district. Carver, the smallest district, with 2,218 students in two elementary schools and the middle/high school complex, is a rural community of 11, 163 residents. Middleborough, with a population of 19,941, houses 3,550 students within their school system. Plymouth is "America's Hometown" and boasts a population of 51, 701 residents. With more than 8.859 students within its borders, Plymouth is experiencing unprecedented growth, evidenced by the new middle school, open this year, and a third high school entering the planning phase.

All districts participating in the first grant will continue their involvement with the second grant. Two additional school districts, Silver Lake and Whitman-Hanson, will also be participating in this grant. The Silver Lake school district with 3,637 students, is comprised of three towns; Halifax, a pastoral community with a residential population of 7,500, Kingston, a costal community of 11,780, and Plympton, the smallest of the three towns with 2,384 residents. The towns of Whitman, with 14,231 residents and Hanson, with 10,458 residents, have a combined student population of  4,521.

These six districts geographically surround the seventh partner, Bridgewater State College, in southeastern Massachusetts, the fastest growing region in the northeastern United States. Founded in 1840, Bridgewater State College (BSU) is a regional comprehensive public college. Bridgewater has historic and current strength in the preparation and in-service education of teachers.

The college is proud of its NCATE accreditation of its teacher education programs, the strong majors in its school of arts and sciences that support the education of teachers, and its many graduate programs that provide standard certification and professional development to area educators.

Currently BSU prepares more teachers, principals, superintendents and counselors for the Commonwealth than any higher education institution in the state.

 

Last Modified: July 26, 2011