Benjamin E. Mays to transition to Afrocentric program starting in fall 2025

At the July 16 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a plan for Benjamin E. Mays to transition its focus from the current International Baccalaureate (IB) program to an Afrocentric program starting in fall 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity for Saint Paul Public Schools and Benjamin E. Mays to provide the children of St. Paul with a program focused on the African American experience, history and culture. Benjamin E. Mays was selected as the ideal school for this program because of its high percentage of African American students and location in the historic Rondo neighborhood.

Over the past school year, a group of over 20 people including school district staff, School Board members, principals, and other leaders from the African American community have been meeting to discuss the creation of this exciting new program. This upcoming school year (2024-25), Benjamin E. Mays families and staff will be invited to be part of the planning process for this new program.

To allow time for school community engagement and planning, this change will not go into effect until fall 2025—more than a year from now.

All current and incoming families will have the option to stay at Benjamin E. Mays when the Afrocentric program begins in fall 2025. Families who wish to continue with the IB program will have the option to enroll your child(ren) in an IB program at another SPPS elementary school; transportation will be provided. Families who are not interested in IB at another site or the Afrocentric program will have priority placement in a program of their choosing.

Please know you do not need to take any action now. All students will continue to be enrolled at Benjamin E. Mays unless families decide to move them to another school at a later date.

More information, including how to get involved in the planning, will be shared once school starts in the fall.