Research & Insights / Holmes Innovation School: a 2025 School on the Move Semifinalist

Holmes Innovation School: a 2025 School on the Move Semifinalist

The six semifinalists for the 2025 School on the Move Prize are excellent examples of the conditions of sustainable school improvement EdVestors’ research has identified. You can read all their stories here. Please join us at the Prize Ceremony on November 13th!

The Holmes Innovation School is a full-inclusion elementary school with a mission grounded in social justice, access, strong relationships, and equity. Just three years ago, Holmes faced steep challenges—low academic outcomes, fractured culture, and instructional inequities. It has since evolved from a school “in crisis” to a thriving ecosystem of learning, liberation, and limitless possibility.

The turnaround began with reimagining educator professional development as the foundation for change. The Holmes team redesigned professional learning to be culturally responsive, educator-informed, and rooted in joy and relevance. One of the most impactful changes was the introduction of Professional Learning Communities, spaces where educators share best practices and collaborate on instructional strategies. The impact has been dramatic: staff favorability scores have soared from 24% to 96% for professional learning and from 35% to 97% for school climate ratings —well above district and national benchmarks.

With a stronger adult culture in place, Holmes turned to reimagining what’s possible in every classroom through three critical shifts. The school restructured its schedule to prioritize collaboration, adopted high-quality instructional materials, and used data as a tool for equity by analyzing student work and outcomes to guide real-time instructional adjustments. Progress monitoring became a reflection of the commitment to each learner’s growth, resulting in measurable gains—particularly among students with disabilities (SWD). This is reflected in growth in their MAP achievement percentiles over the last two school years. The percentage of SWDs scoring in the lowest achievement band decreased in both Math (from 74% to 56%) and ELA (from 54% to 40%).

The Holmes also prioritized belonging and building a school culture where every child’s identity is seen, affirmed, and celebrated. Monthly “Electric Town Halls” that spotlight student voice and achievements, and a school-wide incentive system, including monthly off-site attendance celebrations and after-school enrichment clubs, are just a few of the ways Holmes has become a school where students feel proud to belong. Chronic absenteeism has been cut by nearly half, from 51% in March of SY 22-23 to 26% in March of SY 24-25. These sustained reductions represent the largest improvement among BPS transformation schools.

Over the last three years, the Holmes has rebuilt itself by investing in adult capacity, reimagining instruction through culturally responsive practice, and creating a student experience rooted in joy, belonging, and academic excellence. This work has yielded powerful results and a community where students feel seen, valued, and connected, and every adult is committed to their success.