Named in honor of Arthur D. Healey, the Healey School is a diverse and dynamic K-8 school, committed to academic excellence in the core subject areas and to broad enrichment opportunities in the arts, technology, and foreign language. More than 500 students attend this state-of-the-art facility with panoramic views of Boston's skyline and the Mystic River Valley. The Healey School's educational programs feature rich, hands-on curricula with emphasis on problem-solving, writing for real purposes, and small-group instruction.

The Healey School offers a wide range of extracurricular and support services. All students have weekly opportunities to participate in classes in music, art, library, and physical education. In addition, students are supported with emotional and social issues through the Open Circle (Grades K-4) and the Second Step (Grades 5-8) curricula, on-site counseling, student mediation, and a strong alliance with Somerville Mental Health Association. The Healey Afterschool Program offers safe, developmentally appropriate enrichment activities and academic acceleration to all interested students in Grades K-8.

It is a goal of the Healey School to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in a rigorous college preparatory program in high school. Grade 7 and 8 students prepare for higher education through CollegeQuest, which introduces middle grade students to local colleges through field trips, talks with visitors, and mock applications. In addition to their academic classes, middle grade students take on a range of important leadership roles within the school, including tutoring, student government, and representing the school to visitors.

The Healey School is a demonstration site for the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations. This work engages faculty in a significant dialogue about the factors that lead to high levels of motivation and engagement for all students. The Healey School aspires to maximize the potential of each student by:

• Employing highly qualified staff members who possess a strong awareness of district and state standards.
• Engaging in professional development focused on improving instruction and positive attitudes.
• Knowing students as individuals, and planning for daily instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners.

• Building a culture of achievement as a Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations demonstration site
  


• Social-emotional curricula, Open Circle and Second Step, for all students in Grades K-8


• Library/media center open extended morning and afternoon hours for independent reading, research and class work


• A partnership with Groundwork Somerville supports an on-site school garden for science and health instruction


• Award-winning Somerville Mediation Program supports peer mediators in peacefully resolving student conflicts


• Home of HappeningNow! Everwhere, a national magazine written and published by students for students.

The Healey School regularly reports demographic and student progress data to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This data is used to develop the annual progress report card for the Arthur D. Healey School. The 2011 NCLB Report Card for the Healey School can be found online using this link.