Prospect Hill Academy (PHA) was established in 1996.  As a K-12 college preparatory school, over 95% of PHA graduates matriculate to four year colleges.  PHA is ranked among the top 2% of all US high schools by US News and World Report, and among the top 25% of all Massachusetts districts by the Department of Education.

The Early Childhood Campus (grades K-3) serves a very diverse population.  85% of the students are non-white – 58% black or African American, 14% Hispanic/Latino, 6% Asian, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Island, and 5% multi-racial.  52% list a language other than English as their primary/native language.  This diversity of ethnicity, culture, language, and perspective creates a richness in our community that would be hard to find anywhere else.

With this richness comes challenges.  Currently 71% of our students qualify for free or reduced school lunch.  Free breakfast is offered to all students who arrive early.  Many students arrive at school too late to receive the free breakfast served in the cafeteria.  And many arrive without a morning snack packed in their backpacks.  In the last year, the school nurse estimates that she had 500 visits for head or stomach aches that were resolved by her providing food.

It is time to pay attention to this reality.   As a community, we can ensure that the children in our school no longer have to struggle to learn on an empty stomach.