School History

JQUS emerged from the desire of parents for a college preparatory secondary school that would continue the educational and cultural atmosphere their children had experienced at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston. A planning team of parents and teachers developed a proposal for a pilot Upper School. JQUS opened as a Boston Public Schools pilot for Grade 6 in 1999, adding an additional grade each year. The first JQUS graduating senior class was the Class of 2006. 
 
JQUS, because of its status as a pilot school, seeks to create innovative, replicable and sustainable models for school reform in Boston. We are now an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) School for the Diploma Program (Grades 11 & 12) and the Middle Years Program (Grades 6 -10). We are the only Boston Public School that is "IB for All".  

School Culture

JQUS is a supportive 6-12 community, offering to its students, faculty, families and community partners opportunities to know one another well. JQUS emphasizes the importance of high standards in all subject areas and balances requirements for core subjects with additional requirements in world languages, the arts and physical education. JQUS cultivates the appreciation for lifelong learning in the development of its staff and students. 

Teacher Leadership Model

We have a strong teachers-as-leaders model at JQUS. Teachers at JQUS are involved in the decision-making process through membership and participation in various leadership positions including: SLT, School Site Council, Subject Teams, Grade Teams, Student Support, and Operations. We have an extended day with half-day Wednesdays, where afternoons are reserved for weekly, teacher-led, professional development.