Research & Insights / Bradley Elementary School: A 2025 School On the Move Semifinalist

Bradley Elementary School: A 2025 School On the Move Semifinalist

The six semifinalists for the 2025 School on the Move Prize are excellent examples of the conditions of sustainable school improvement EdVestors’ research has identified. You can read all their stories here. Please join us at the Prize Ceremony on November 13th!

The Bradley Elementary School serves 300 students that reflect the vibrant and diverse East Boston neighborhood in which the school is located. Each morning, students, families, and staff come together to build community by gathering for a joyful, student-led assembly. This is a purposeful, daily routine anchored by the Bradley educators’ belief that students are at the heart of the school’s improvement efforts.

The school has focused on implementing high-leverage instructional strategies by prioritizing evidence-based instructional practices, while also promoting student engagement, critical thinking, and personalized learning experiences. Through continuous professional development and data-driven decision-making, educators are equipped to implement strategies that maximize student achievement and foster a love for learning.

Bradley educators have also committed to a culture of collaboration—teachers and other instructional staff use common planning time to analyze student data, share best practices, and refine instructional approaches. This commitment to collaboration has directly supported student growth as teachers have made classroom interventions more targeted and effective. In 2024, Bradley’s lowest-performing students showed the greatest gains in Math, and exceeded their ELA accountability targets–set by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education–underscoring the success of data-driven intervention strategies.

The school has also prioritized a welcoming school environment for all students and their families, valuing parental input and partnerships. In regularly engaging with families through events, by reporting on student progress, and placing an emphasis on student voice, the team of educators at the Bradley aims to create a supportive learning environment that extends beyond the classroom. School climate survey results demonstrate this priority. Overall student engagement surpasses district averages by 24 percentage points, and all family survey categories surpassed 70% favorability.

In 2024, the Bradley School was recognized as a National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School—one of only two schools in Massachusetts and only the second Boston Public School to receive the award.