Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the capital and the largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city is also the county seat of Suffolk County. It is the unofficial capital of the region known as New England as well as one of the oldest and wealthiest cities in the United States, with an economy based on education, health care, finance, and high technology.

Education

Befitting its nickname as the Athens of America, Boston is well known for its colleges and universities, with the greater Boston area's being the home to over 100 colleges. Boston College, the first institution of higher education established in the city, was originally located in the South End before moving outside the city limits to Chestnut Hill. Its historic campus has subsequently expanded such that almost half of it is now within the city of Boston. Also founded in the city, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology first opened in what is now Boston's financial district and later established its campus in Back Bay near Copley Square before moving across the Charles River to Cambridge. Conversely, Boston University, now the city's second largest employer and among the largest private universities in the country, was originally established in Vermont and moved to its present campus in the early 20th century. Meanwhile Harvard University, the nation's oldest, and many would argue the most prestigious, university maintains its main campus in Cambridge. However, most of its current land holdings, including the Arnold Arboretum and its business and medical schools, are in Boston. Harvard has also announced plans to expand its main campus across the Charles River into Boston's Allston neighborhood.

Related Topics:
Colleges and universities - Boston College - Institution of higher education - South End - Chestnut Hill - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Back Bay - Copley Square - Boston University - Harvard University - Arnold Arboretum - Business - Medical - Allston

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Boston Public Schools, the oldest public school system in the U.S., enrolls 58,600 students from kindergarten to grade 12. The system operates 145 schools, which includes Boston Latin School (the oldest public school, established in 1635), English High (the oldest public high school, established 1821), and Mather (the oldest public elementary school, establised in 1639).{{ref|school}} The city also has private, parochial, and charter schools. 3000 students of racial minorities attend participating suburban schools through the Metropolitan Educational Opportunity Council, or METCO.

Related Topics:
Kindergarten - Boston Latin School - 1635 - High school - 1821 - 1639 - Charter school

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