About the Beacon Hill, Massachusetts Area 

Beacon Hill, one of Boston’s oldest communities is approximately one-half mile square and is bounded by Beacon Street, Bowdoin Street, Cambridge Street and Storrow Drive. There are about 10,000 people that call this quant area their home. Known for its Federal style rowhouses and narrow gas-lit streets with brick sidewalks, Beacon Hill is often named one of the most expenses places to live in the country. This desire to live on the Hill is quickly seen as one walks about and experiences the small community feel, friendly neighbors and serene setting.  

THE HISTORY OF BEACON HILL 

Beacon Hill got its name for the location of a former beacon atop the highest point in central Boston that once stood atop its hill to warn locals about foreign invasion. The entire hill was once owned by William Blaxton, the first European settler of Boston. In 1935 he sold his land to the Puritans. Before the Revolution, Beacon Hill was pasture land with a few exceptions that included John Hancock’s country estate. This estate was demolished to make room for the western addition of the State House.  

The South Slope which were spacious and carefully laid out was developed for Boston’s richest families by Mt. Vernon Proprietors in the 1790’s. The North Slope developed more organically while growing up and down alleys and into nooks and crannies. The North Slope residents were former slaves, sailors, poets, etc. In the 19th century many of the homes on the North Slope became tenements due to the influx of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. The Flat of the Hill was originally part of the Charles River. Blacksmiths, shoemakers, stables began calling it home after being filled in. Later the Flat of the Hill would be home to garages of the South Slope which since then have been renovated into living quarters. Today the Flat of the Hill is home to some of the most expensive homes in Boston.  

In December 19, 1962 Beacon Hill was designated a National Historic Landmark.
 

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BEACON HILL REAL ESTATE 

The Beacon Hill market continued to be one of the stronger markets in the Boston area. 202 properties changed hands according the MLS in 2008. 18 of these homes were single family homes with an average list price of $3,294,444 and an average sale price of $2,975,056 or 90.31% of their listing price. On average it took 166 days for a single family property to sell in Beacon Hill with the range of list prices at $879,000 to 11,950,000 and the range of sold prices at $884,000 to 9,500,000. This is compared to 2007 when 15 single family homes sold for an average price of $2,491,533 while taking on average 213 days on the market. In 2008 median price of homes in the Beacon Hill area increased 32.23% while homes sold 22.16% faster.  

The Beacon Hill condominium market faired a little differently then the Single Family market, but showed very promising results compared to the rest of the country. In 2008 177 condos sold making up nearly 88% of all activity in Beacon Hill. The average condo sold for $684,484 while taking 111.6 days to sell in 2008. This is a 2.30% drop in sales prices when compared to 2007’s average price of $700,579. There were 33 fewer condos listed and it took on average 96.82 days to sell in 2007. This is a 22.92% drop in sales volume with a 15.27% increase in the days on market for the group. The range of the listing prices in the area were $175,000 to $5,850,000 and the sale range of $165,000 to $5,000,000. Based on these figures, on average a Beacon Hill Condo owner received 95.31% of their asking price in 2008.  

Least, but not forgotten is the Multi-Family properties that sold in 2008 according to the MLS. In 2008 there were 7 properties that were sold with an average sales price of $2,061,286. These homes took on average 112.7 days to sell. The range of listing prices was $1,450,000 to $6,200,000 and sold prices of $1,410,000 to $5,000,000. The sellers of multi-family properties on average received 88.28% of their asking price.  

***These figures are deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Source MLSPIN.
 

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BEACON HILL ATTRACTIONS 

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BEACON HILL SCHOOLS 

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) continues to improve, but like most things still have room for improvement. Over the past decade, BPS has been transformed from a failing school district to one of the most renowned urban school districts in the country. Over the past couple years many media outlets have heralded Boston as a model for urban school district reform. These publications included the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and U.S. News & World Report. In fact, in 2006, Boston won the Broad Prize for Urban Education as the best city school district in the nation.  

Since 1998, the City of Boston has constructed six new school buildings and will be home to 24 pilot schools in September 2009 with an anticipated four more being opened in the near future. Today, Boston offers 38 citywide high school options with 27 housing less than 400 students. U.S News & World Report recently ranked Boston Latin School #27 on the first list of America’s 100 Best High Schools with 8 other BPS schools receiving metals of silver and bronze.  

This isn’t the only “first” that BPS has received! In 1635 Boston was home to the first public school (Boston Latin School) and would later open the first public elementary school in 1639 (Mather Elementary School). In 1647 Boston became place to the first public school district with the first public high school following in 1821 (English High School). It is because of these many “firsts” that Boston Public Schools are considered the birthplace of public education in this nation.  

Striving to improve is the reason that BPS continues to push towards the advancement of education through technology. In 1996, there was one computer for every 63 students, today the ratio is one computer for every four students. In 1998, Boston became the first urban school district in the country to provide high speed internet access and wire all of its schools.  

Boston’s Student assignment plan for elementary and middle schools divides the city into three zones. Beacon Hill falls in the North Zone. Parents can apply for schools within their school zone. All high schools are city wide.
 

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Boston Public Schools 2008-2009 Stats 

There are 143 Schools in the BPS 6 Early Learning Centers (K - Grade 1) 60 Elementary Schools (K-5) 18 Elementary & Middle Schools (K-8) 16 Middle Schools (6-8) 1 Middle & High School (6-12) 30 High Schools (9-12) 3 "Exam" Schools (7-12) 6 Special Education Schools (K-12) 3 Alternative (at risk) Programs Student Demographics 39.00% Black 37.00% Hispanic 13.00% White 9.00% Asian 2.00% Multi-Racial <1% Other

Projected SY09 Enrollment is 55,800 25,850 Students in Kindergarden - Grade 5 11,340 Students in Grades 6 - 8 18,610 Students in Grades 9 -12 Class Size 22 Kindergarden - Grade 2 25 Grade 3 - Grade 5 28 Grade 6 - Grade 8 31 Grade 9 - Grade 12 SAT Results   BPS Mass. US Crit Read 438 507 497 Math 457 520 510 Writing 436 505 488

Mass Comprehensive Assessment System Grade Test BPS %Change* State %Change* 3 Read 74.00% -4% 87.00% -4% 3 Math 68.00% 1% 86.00% 2% 4 ELA 73.00% -2% 87.00% -3% 4 Math 77.00% 4% 87.00% 0% 5 ELA 80.00% 0% 91.00% 0% 5 Math 67.00% 0% 82.00% 0% 5 Science 63.00% -6% 88.00% 0% 6 ELA 80.00% -1% 91.00% -1% 6 Math 61.00% 1% 82.00% 2% 7 ELA 82.00% 0% 92.00% 0% 7 Math 56.00% 0% 76.00% 0% 8 ELA 85.00% 0% 93.00% 0% 8 Math 60.00% 2% 76.00% 1% 8 Science 48.00% 2% 78.00% 1% 10 ELA 91.00% 4% 96.00% 1% 10 Math 84.00% 2% 91.00% 0% *Comparison of students passed from 2007 & 2008

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BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL REPORT CARD
***Facts and figures are based off of www.bostonpublicschools.org . Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

List of Back Bay Schools

Name of Private School

The Newman School

Learning Project Elementary

Commonwealth School

Commonwealth School

Kingsley Montessori School

Pearson School

Name of Public School
Samuel Adams Elementary School	Boston International High School
Dante Alighieri Elementary School	Boston Latin Academy
Blackstone Elementary School	Boston Latin School
Manassah E. Bradley Elementary School	Brighton High School
East Boston Early Education Center	Jeremiah E. Burke
Eliot Elementary School	Carter Developmental Center
Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School	Charlestown High School
Farragut Elementary School	Community Academy
Thomas Gardner Elementary School	Dorchester High School
James A. Garfield Elementary School	Boston Adult Technical Academy
Curtis Guild Elementary School	Boston Day and Evening Academy
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School	Brook Farm Business and Service Career Academy
Harvard-Kent Elementary School	Community Academy of Science and Health
Joseph J. Hurley Elementary School	East Boston High School
Jackson Mann Elementary School	The Engineering School
Patrick J. Kennedy Elementary School	English High School
Mary Lyon Elementary School	Excel High School
Samuel W. Mason Elementary School	Fenway High School
Donald McKay School	Greater Egleston Community High School
North Zone ELC	Health Careers Academy (Horace Mann Charter School)
Hugh R. O'Donnell Elementary School	Hyde Park High School
Orchard Gardens School	Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
James Otis Elementary School	William McKinley Middle School
Josiah Quincy Elementary School	William McKinley South End Academy
Maurice J. Tobin School	Media Communications Technology High School
Warren Prescott Elementary School	Middle School Academy
Winship Elementary School	Monument High School
John Winthrop Elementary School	New Mission High School
Dearborn Middle School	Noonan Business Academy
Thomas A. Edison Junior High School	John D. O'Bryant High School of Mathematics & Science
Clarence R. Edwards Middle Schol	Odyssey High School
Umana/Barnes Middle School	Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Samuel Adams Elementary School	Muriel Snowden International School
Rafael Hernandez School	Social Justice Academy
King Middle School	Technical Boston Academy
Mission Hill School	Urban Science Academy
James P. Timilty Middle School	West Roxbury Education Complex
Young Achievers School	Egleston Community High School
Academy of Public Service	Expulsion Alterantive School
Another Course to College	Madison Park High School
Boston Arts Academy	South Boston High School
Boston Community Leadership Academy

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