Imagine a school where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics reign supreme. This is the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science abbreviated as O’B. It is a college preparatory public exam school.
The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is located on 55 Malcolm X Boulevard in Roxbury Massachusetts. The O’Bryant shares its campus with Madison Park Technical Vocational High School.
But how did this institution dedicated to STEM come to be? Let’s travel back in time. The O’Bryant began as the Mechanic Arts High School in 1893. Until the early 1970s it was an all-boys school. In 1944 the school became Boston Technical High School.
The original building was located on the corner of Dalton and Belvidere Streets in the Back Bay. The Hilton Hotel stands there today. In 1909 a five-story building was completed on Scotia Street. Later the school moved to 205 Townsend Street in Roxbury. Today that building is home to Boston Latin Academy. Boston Technical High School remained there until 1987. It then relocated to 55 New Dudley Street now Malcolm X Boulevard.
In 1989 Boston Technical High School and Mario Umana Technical High School merged. The school still kept the name of Boston Technical High School. In 1994 the school graduated its first class. It was renamed after Boston educator John D. O’Bryant.
John D. O’Bryant was a trailblazing African-American educator. He was famous for his neighborhood cookouts. O’Bryant hosted them to hear the concerns of the local community. He was the first African-American guidance counselor in Boston. He was also the first African-American vice president of Northeastern.
Now the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science stands as a beacon of STEM education. Its motto is “Nil satis nisi optimum” meaning Nothing but the best is good enough. The John D. O’Bryant serves students in grades 7 through 12.
The John D. O’Bryant has a diverse student body. It is the most racially diverse of Boston’s three exam schools. More than one-third of the students identify as Latino. Thirty-one percent are Black. Nineteen percent are Asian. Half speak a native language other than English. Nearly 60 percent are low income.
The John D. O’Bryant offers a resource-rich environment. There is a whole building dedicated to music classes. Students can learn piano percussion brass and wind instruments. They can also participate in chorus.
The John D. O’Bryant boasts many notable alumni. They include Massachusetts State Senator Liz Miranda and former NHL player Fred Ahern. Former Chiefs of Police for the LAPD NYPD and BPD William Bratton also attended the school. Richard Egan co-founder of EMC Corporation is also an alumni.
The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science continues to shape young minds. It prepares them for success in STEM fields. The John D. O’Bryant remains a vital part of the Boston educational landscape.