The first and oldest PUBLIC high school in America — The English High School of Boston — will celebrate its 200th anniversary on the evening of October 1 at the Marriott Copley Place Boston Hotel.
America’s First and Oldest Public High School Knows It Has Alumni in All 50 States … But Locating Many of Them Is Easier Said than Done
BOSTON, MASS. (Issued September 2022) — Wherever you live, it’s possible that a friend, neighbor or relative graduated from The English High School of Boston — the first and oldest public high school in America. English High is part of a relatively small group of schools able to boast alumni residing in all 50 states.
According to Michael Thomas, EHS Class of 1967, President/CEO of the Alumni Association, and Chair of the 200th Anniversary Committee, “There are over 18,000 alumni ‘out there.’ But we only have contact information for about half.
Many alums become unconnected. Some forget to update contact information when they relocate. Others ignore correspondence because they think you only want a donation. Still others might like to reconnect but don’t know how or don’t realize they have lost the connection.
As we gear up for EHS’s Anniversary Gala on October 1 in Boston, we’re redoubling our efforts to reconnect.”
Not surprisingly, nearly 8,000 alumni who are on the rolls still reside in Massachusetts.
Only one lives in Alaska and three call Hawaii home.
States with the largest number of EHS alumni are Florida (800), California (300), New Hampshire (226), New York (200), Georgia (156), and Texas (136).
Just one grad lives in South Dakota and three are in Wyoming, The West Indies and Bermuda are home to one alum each.
“‘Search-and-rescue’ attempts aren’t easy,” Thomas smiles. The Alumni group is using a multi-pronged approach to try to fill in the graduation roster including a monthly newsletter, news stories, social media, website, search platforms, and expanded word-of-mouth efforts, all in the hope of locating valuable additions to the schools’ mission.
For most of its 200 years, EHS has catered to Boston’s working-class families – often first- and second- generation kids. During the late 19th and much of the 20th century, immigrant families mostly hailed from Italy, Ireland, Russia, Poland and other countries. In the last few decades, most emigrated from Caribbean islands or South America.
Today, 98% of EHS’s student body is minority and 36% are English language learners.
English High ‘s 200th virtual birthday celebration in 2021 drew 300 participants, but now, with the pandemic waning, it’s expected this year’s in-person Gala will draw many more.
Among alumni notables are financier J. P. Morgan (1854); aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley (1852); WW II Gen. Matthew Ridgway (1912); U. S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Paul X. Kelley (1946); Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Woody Woodhouse (1944); actor Leonard Nimoy (1948); New Kids on the Block’s Jordan Knight (1988), and many others.
In an innovative campaign strategy to find untethered alumni, the Alumni Association is offering incentives to alumni who refer the most alumni each month. Winners may receive a ‘Proud to Be 200’ bicentennial baseball cap. Names will be highlighted in future newsletters.
To forward alumni contact info, for more about English High School and current leading-edge programs, details about the October 1st Gala, and/or to donate to the 200th Anniversary Campaign, visit
or contact Michael Thomas: 781-956-4774
By Stan Hurwitz