More Roxbury Prep Students Headed to College

Dorchester is only seven miles from the Chestnut Hill campus of Boston College, but for Roxbury Prep High School Senior Osamudiamen “Mudia” Eastwood, the opportunities and access open up an entire new space.

These opportunities are what attracted him to the college, where he’ll be attending in the fall on a full, four-year Questbridge scholarship.

“I live in a mostly Black and LatinX neighborhood,” Eastwood said. “Boston College is a very different environment from what I’m used to. I’m going to see what life is like for other people. I’m going to have to adjust to the culture, but that’s why I wanted to go there. I like to challenge myself.”

Eastwood has certainly challenged himself at Roxbury Prep, where he has taken Advanced Placement courses in World History, Capstone Research, English Language and Composition, Calculus AB, Physics, Chemistry and Spanish Language and Composition..

While Eastwood’s course load may seem extraordinary, it’s actually quite traditional at the public charter school, which encourages all students to load up on rigorous AP classes. One hundred percent of Roxbury Prep seniors participated in at least one AP class and 51% passed one or more AP exams, earning them college credit. Nationally, only about 24% of students pass at least one AP exam and in Massachusetts, that number is 34%.

Roxbury Prep’s AP for All philosophy is borne out of the goal to ensure equity and access in college admissions. Studies show that students who successfully complete AP classes have a higher chance of graduating from college. And therefore, that type of foundational background provides political and economic access long past scholars’ high school days.

Nearly the entire graduating class is headed to college in the fall. The graduates have been accepted to some of the most prestigious universities in America -- many with full scholarships that help alleviate the concerns about paying for tuition and room and board that can, in some cases, cost more than $60,000 per year. Among the noteworthy acceptances this year are:Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Northeastern, Spelman, Tufts and the University of Massachusetts.

At Roxbury Prep, students begin in 5th grade, or can start if there’s room in higher grades. Roxbury Prep was one of the first public schools to re-open in the pandemic, prioritizing students with specific needs first and ensuring they could be in school as many days a week as possible.

Roxbury Prep also runs a “newcomers” program--helping students who are learning the English language continue their education in a communal and nurturing environment that speeds their learning of English while also honoring their languages and cultures of origin.

Once in high school, students get to engage in their passions outside of their core academics through Roxbury Prep’s High School 2.0 program, which connects scholars with experts in their field in the areas of medicine, sports broadcasting, creative writing, spoken word and dozens of other options.

The success of the class is all the more remarkable given the challenges of the last year. When the coronavirus first emerged in Boston, all public schools were ordered shut down. Educators at Roxbury Prep sprung into action, ensuring students had the resources they needed to continue learning online within days.

Though the pandemic prevented him from visiting the campus of Boston College, Eastwood said he’s been able to tour the campus virtually through YouTube videos.

Eastwood, who has been attending Roxbury Prep since fifth grade, said he is used to rigorous academics and feels he’ll be up to the academic challenge at Boston College. After graduating from Boston College, Eastwood said he hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.

While he’s not sure what to expect socially, Eastwood said he is eager to meet new friends from different backgrounds. He has a history of embracing other cultures. In high school, he founded a club for LatinX students called Raices, even though his parents are from the West African nation of Nigeria.

“I was surrounded by a lot of LatinX people, so it just made me connect with them more and so it made me want to be involved and be an advocate for them,” Eastwood said.

Now that the pandemic is easing, Eastwood said he’s hoping to visit the Chestnut Hill campus before the start of the semester to see what his home at Boston College will hold.