Dedham Public Schools
| Dedham Public School System | |
|---|---|
|
Dedham, Massachusetts Massachusetts United States |
|
| District information | |
| Grades | PK–12 |
| Established | 1644 |
| Superintendent | Michael Welch |
| Asst. Superintendent(s) | Cindy Kelly |
| School board | Steve Bilafer, Mayanne Briggs, Kevin Coughlin, Lisa Laprade, Tom Ryan, Susan Walko, Tracy White |
| Schools | 7 |
| Budget | $35,979,808 (FY17) |
| District ID | 2504050 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 2,776 (2014-15) |
| Teachers | 226.26 (on FTE basis) |
| Student-teacher ratio | 12.72:1 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
The Dedham Public School System (Dedham Public Schools) is a PK–12 graded school district in Massachusetts. It is the oldest public school system in the United States.
On January 1, 1644, by unanimous vote, the Town of Dedham authorized the first taxpayer-funded public school in the United States, "the seed of American education." Other schools, including Boston Latin School and the Town of Rehoboth make similar claims, but Dedham's was the first to be supported exclusively by tax dollars. The first schoolhouse was built in present-day Dedham Square near the First Church by Thomas Thurston.
Its first teacher, Rev. Ralph Wheelock, was paid 20 pounds annually to instruct the youth of the community. Descendants of these students would become presidents of Dartmouth College, Yale University and Harvard University.
While living in Dedham, Horace Mann served on the School Committee.
There are three schools that have closed within the current borders of the Town of Dedham: the Ames School, the Quincy School, and the Dexter School. The Ames School building was sold and is currently an office building in Dedham Square and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Quincy School in East Dedham was used until 1982 and later sold to a developer. The Dexter School in Upper Dedham is still owned by the School Department but is leased out to private companies and The Education Collaborative.
The district operates seven schools. The Early Childhood Education Center housed at the Capen School serves students in pre-school and kindergarten. There are four neighborhood elementary schools: Avery, Greenlodge, Oakdale, and Riverdale. All four elementary schools feed into Dedham Middle School which houses grades six, seven, and eight, and Dedham High School serves students in grades nine through 12.
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