Hingham METCO Program Expands with Enrichment and New Families
HINGHAM - Hingham’s METCO program is expanding in both reach and opportunity, with new students joining the district, families becoming more involved, and fresh state funding supporting summer enrichment.
Amy Jackson, Hingham’s METCO Director, shared a comprehensive update highlighting the growth of the program, which supports students from Boston attending Hingham Public Schools as part of the state’s voluntary integration initiative.
“METCO is about more than education — it’s about building community. In Hingham, our students don’t just attend school; they become part of a town that grows more inclusive, understanding, and connected because of their presence. When we come together across zip codes, we all benefit in ways that go far beyond the classroom,” said Jackson.
New Families Join Hingham Community
Nine new students, from kindergarten through ninth grade, are set to join the district in the 2025–26 school year. They and their families will be welcomed at an orientation on May 22.
“All the parents to talk to are just really excited to come to Hingham,” Jackson said. “The word is getting out.”
The program currently serves 43 students—19 in elementary schools, and 12 each in middle and high school.
State Funding and Special Grants
The METCO program receives its core funding from the state, which amounted to $400,251 for FY25. Additionally, Hingham secured two competitive grants: a $31,444 supplemental grant written by Barbara Alala, and a $15,000 racial equity and inclusion grant co-authored by Jackson and Superintendent Margaret Adams.
“These grants are only available once again because we are a METCO district,” Jackson said. The funding is supporting both academic and community-building initiatives.
Year-Round Engagement and Events
From college visits to community paint nights, students and families took part in a wide range of events this year:
A Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour at Roxbury Community College
A METCO Family Night at Franklin Park Zoo with more than 40 families
Advocacy Day at the State House
A Family Paint Day co-hosted with the Hingham Unity Council and PTOs
“We’re trying to make [Paint Day] an annual event,” Jackson said. “Anytime they get a chance just to get together, have conversation, they love it.”
Middle school students will also attend a talk from speaker Anthony Valentine on identity and belonging. He previously spoke at the high school, and students there have requested his return.
Expanding Summer Enrichment
Two major summer programs will keep students engaged in learning. Six students will attend a five-week METCO summer school focused on academics in the morning and enrichment in the afternoon. Another six will attend Boston University’s Tech Revolution STEM Program, where students will rotate through courses like rollercoaster design, robotics, STEM and medicine, and digital arts.
“We were really excited to get that going this year,” said Jackson, crediting the supplemental grant for making it possible.
Honoring a Legacy
Honoring the legacy of long-time Hingham METCO director, Camilla Roundtree, the community dedicated the library at Foster Elementary School. Roundtree’s 40-year career changed the lives of hundreds of students in Boston and Hingham. “Today, we don’t just name a room, we carry forward a promise,” said Jackson at the ceremony. “That we will continue to make room for every child. That we will lead with heart. That we will fight for fairness. That we will, like Mrs. Roundtree, see the potential in every student and do whatever it takes to support each and every one in our care.”
Celebrating Success
As the school year winds down, the district is celebrating two METCO seniors. Soniya Riley Brooks will attend UMass Boston to study psychology, and Daniel Davis is headed to Morehouse College to major in business and minor in film studies.
“These are not students who just attend Hingham schools,” said School Committee member Tim Miller-Dempsey. “These are students who are included in all aspects of life in Hingham.”
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