Our Mission and History
A Legacy of Opportunity, A Future of Promise
Founded in 1990 by former Boston City Councilor Barry T. Hynes, Nativity Prep is the oldest and longest-operating “Nativity model” school in the nation, a Jesuit middle school dedicated to providing a highly structured, tuition-free preparatory education to students from low-income families. Visionary leaders such as Raymond Callahan, SJ, and John Wronski, SJ, helped shape the school’s early trajectory, overseeing pivotal milestones, including the move to a larger school building in Jamaica Plain, the transition from an all-volunteer teaching staff to a professional faculty, and the establishment of our Graduate Support Office.
A Mission in Motion
More than three decades later, Nativity Prep continues to be a trusted and transformative force in the lives of Boston families. Nearly 55 young men in grades 5 through 8 learn, grow, serve, and pray together daily, supported by dedicated educators, skilled volunteers, and a network of generous benefactors. The school’s 430+ alumni are thriving: earning degrees from top independent high schools and colleges, building careers across diverse industries, and giving back to their communities through leadership and service. Nativity Prep’s mission endures—opening doors and changing lives through education, faith, and opportunity.
Our 35-year History
29 Students walk through the doors at 30 Raynor Circle in Roxbury for the first day of school. School started at 7:30am and ends after evening study at 9:00pm
The first class, composed of 13 graduates, received their diplomas in the graduation ceremony held at St. Frances de Sales Church.
The Graduate Support Office was formed to help graduates with the transition to high school and college.
Just a few blocks from the Raynor Circle – less than a mile, really stands a solid brick building just brimming with potential. To the eyes of Fr. Campbell and the trustees, it was the answer to a prayer: that nativity prep begins its second decade and has found a new home, permanent home. – Students return from winter break, not to their old school, but to their new home in Jamaica Plain
On April 14, 2003, The Yawkey Foundation committed a generous grant of $750,000 to Nativity Prep. This grant was designated for purchasing, renovating, and maintaining permanent faculty housing — a key initiative under The Nativity Challenge.
The new faculty residence was named the Ron Burton Sr. House in honor of the Foundation’s trustee and longtime supporter of Nativity Prep.
Ron Burton Sr.’s legacy of service, leadership, and dedication to youth empowerment continues to inspire our mission. Naming the faculty home in his honor reflects our deep respect and gratitude for his unwavering commitment to our school community.
This investment in faculty housing has played a vital role in strengthening our ability to attract and retain talented educators, creating a more stable, supportive, and mission-aligned environment for teachers and students.
Nativity launched the securing the promise capital campaign to expand Graduate support, grow the endowment and add the 4th grade.
Last Dollar Aid Fund- In celebration of our 25th Anniversary, the Last Dollar Aid Fund was established as a vital component of the Securing the Promise campaign. This initiative was created to help close the financial gap that often stands between our alumni and their college graduation. By providing critical financial support during the final stretch of their academic journey, the Last Dollar Aid ensured that our graduates not only enroll in college but successfully complete their degrees—fulfilling our promise to support them beyond the walls of Nativity.
In September of 2018, Nativity prep inaugurated its new “Curtis Family Kitchen”, established in honor of the Curtis Family and Friends. This major renovation enabled Nativity prep to provide three full meals to each student each day in a welcoming, healthy and safe environment. This kitchen has been instrumental to our Dinner Program.
After 20 years of celebrating the annual Spirit Dinner, Nativity Prep evolved the tradition into the newly branded Promise Dinner—a fresh expression of our commitment to the future. The inaugural Promise Dinner made history as Nativity’s most successful fundraising event, generating nearly half a million dollars in a single evening. The night brought together alumni, families, sponsors, and community partners, powerfully demonstrating what’s possible when a community unites around a shared mission. A special highlight of the evening was celebrating the first cohort of College Promise recipients, marking a new chapter of opportunity and support for our graduates.
In response to the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nativity Prep launched the Nativity Family Aid Fund to provide direct financial assistance to families impacted by job loss, illness, and economic uncertainty. This emergency support helped stabilize households and keep students focused on their education during a crisis.
Additionally, long-time supporter Desi Heathwood played a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for students beyond middle school by founding the High School Pathway Program. This initiative was designed to guide students and families through the high school admissions process and ensure a strong start in their next academic chapter.
Nativity Prep launched a $1 Million Endowment Campaign with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation for College Promise- The establishment of a $1 million endowment for our “Last Dollar Aid,” renamed as The College Promise Program, made possible through a generous matching grant partnership with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.
Nativity Prep is deeply honored to receive a remarkable legacy gift from John J. “Jack” Coleman, a U.S. Navy veteran, Boston College graduate, and longtime friend of the school. Jack first connected with Nativity in the early 1990s and even volunteered as an art teacher during his retirement in 2008.
On February 21, 2023, Jack passed away, leaving behind a generous estate gift of $599,382 — the largest individual legacy donation in Nativity’s history. Jack’s gift will support our Endowment and College Promise Scholarship Fund, ensuring future generations of students have the resources, support, and inspiration to thrive. Jack’s belief in the power of education and the arts will live on in every Nativity student he continues to uplift.
September 26th— Nativity Preparatory School of Boston is delighted to announce the rededication of the newly renovated Ronald E. Burton Teaching Fellow Residence, made possible by the generous support of the Yawkey Foundation. The partnership between these two organizations was founded on a shared commitment to education and began in 2003 when the Yawkey Foundation provided a grant for Nativity Prep to purchase a three-family home in Jamaica Plain as housing for the school’s teaching fellows.
Nativity Prep received a transformative $500,000 gift from the Trustees of the Eileen Patricia Sullivan Roche Foundation, marking a powerful continuation of the Roche family’s decades-long legacy of support for our mission. In recognition of this extraordinary milestone, we are proud to name our Teaching Fellowship Program the Eileen P. Roche Teaching Fellow Program—an enduring tribute to a legacy that continues to shape the future of education.
