The Hurley K–8 public school is a Spanish-English immersion school located in Boston’s South End. At the Hurley, we challenge students to learn in two languages and achieve academic excellence in both. Hurley’s hallmarks are a committed, talented teaching staff, an intensive language arts curriculum, a dedication to math and science fluency, a strong commitment to the arts and an innovative afterschool program that engages our children in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities.

• The Hurley currently enrolls approximately 350 students.
• We have 18 classroom teachers as well as para-professionals in grades K1–2nd.
• Enrichment programming including visual art, performing arts, woodworking, music, library science, physical education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) enlivens the school day.
• Over half our families speak Spanish as a first language.
• Hurley parents raise more than $100K a year from the community to support our programs.
• We have a state-of-the-art turf field which is used by the students during gym, recess and afterschool.
• Our Bodega de Arte afterschool program offers a variety of clubs, enrichment programs and academic help to extend our school day.
• Although more than half our students test into Advanced Work programs each year, very few parents choose to leave the Hurley — they know their children will receive a richer education here.

The Hurley School building is welcoming with 18 sunny classrooms and 4 active community spaces including our Dones Memorial Library, which seats 40 and houses a collection of over 5,000 books in both English and Spanish, and desktop computers for on-line research through the school’s wireless internet access. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Lab hosts 16 computers and provides space for innovative programs such as robotics and a woodworking course taught by faculty from the Eliot School of Fine Arts. We recently updated our auditorium, a performing arts venue for visiting musicians and actors, as well as a stage for our students to express their creativity in drama and music classes. Finally, the “Cafe Gym” serves two functions. It is a home to our gym classes as well as indoor play during the winter months, it boasts basketball hoops at all heights. With its fold-down tables and chairs, it also functions as a communal lunch space for grades 1-8.

The Hurley has 2 state-of-the-art outdoor play areas. Our play yard, affectionately known as “the Park,” was renovated in 1999 through the Boston Schoolyard Initiative(link is external) and includes modern play structures, an amphitheater and a communal garden cared for by a dedicated group of parents. Our artificial turf playing field — created in 2008 and replacing a dismal parking lot —provides an outdoor space for gym class, as well as a wildly popular space for our students to run and just be kids.

The Hurley takes great pride in its teachers, all of whom bring valuable expertise, dedication, and a love of children. At the Hurley, teachers work in teams in many areas: by grade, by subject matter, and by area of focus. Hurley teachers view themselves as part of a learning community, and regularly share feedback, best practices, and teaching innovations.

Ms. Soto has worked at the Hurley since 2014 and is from San José, Costa Rica. She has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree from Simmons College. Ms. Soto works closely with each student to see their own potential and to nurture their love for learning. Ms. Soto makes excellent Tres Leches Cake, and will likely beat you in word games like crosswords, scrabble, and letter tiles. Her hobbies are family time, running long distances, biking, yoga, and reading.

Ms. Kaye has worked at the Hurley since 2019 and is from Maryland. She has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and will earn her master's degree from B.C. in 2023. Making learning fun and engaging is a priority in Ms. Kaye’s classroom. She is an avid baker and loves trying out new recipes and making cakes and desserts for special occasions. Ms. Kaye is the head coach of the Women's Club Ultimate Frisbee team at Boston College.

I began teaching 4th grade at the Hurley in 2001. I teach reading, writing, math, and social studies in English. I graduated from UMass Amherst in 2000 with a sociology degree and received my graduate degree from Tufts in education. I’m most passionate about teaching writing, but I love teaching all subjects because it allows me to get to know students in different ways. Fun fact: my husband proposed to me in my classroom, room 201, the last day before winter vacation in 2009...in front of all of my students and a crowd of Hurley onlookers that had accumulated as word spread like wildfire. A parent showed up that afternoon with a bottle of champagne! The Hurley is my second home.

Ms. Gomez has been with the Hurley since 2021 and is from Chicago, IL. She is half Salvadoran and half Mexican. She earned his bachelor's degree from Monmouth College and her Master's degree from the University of Colorado Denver. Ms. Gomez loves teaching children mainly because she wants to instill in them perseverance when faced with academic challenges, she also has a passion for instilling self-esteem in her students with the purpose of guiding them to be the future leaders of our community. Ms. Gómez is very good at raising one eyebrow at a time, and enjoys playing soccer and dancing.

“Ms. P” has worked at the Hurley since 2017 and has a bachelor's degree from UMASS Amherst and a master’s degree from Lesley University, as well as a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. Ms. P enjoys learning and exploring with her students, especially in such a dynamic place as Boston. Ms. P is an avid bike rider and has traveled the country many times. She also loves studying history and reading and thinking critically about how to create a more just society.

Ms. Valencia has worked at the Hurley since 2008 and is from California. She has a bachelor's degree from Suffolk University and a master’s degree from Lesley University. Ms. Valencia loves being an educator because of the positive impacts she has on her students' lives. She makes delicious banana bread, and her hobbies include reading, walking her dog, and spending time with her son.

The Hurley is proud to be a thriving neighborhood school actively supported by the South End community. The school carefully selects partners that enhance the curriculum and meet its high academic standards.

Neighborhood Partners

Since 2003, the Neighborhood Parents for the Hurley School (NPHS) has been our primary funding partner, working closely with the school to supplement its academic and artistic programming and renovate its facilities. With the goal of making the Hurley the best K–8 school in the city and a model for an integrated urban education, NPHS organizes annual fundraisers, writes grants, and solicits private donations.

The surrounding Worcester Street neighborhood and South End community have also played an important role in our history. In the late 1990s, Worcester Street residents and the Hurley Blocks Neighborhood Association worked with the school to spearhead a $500,000 fundraising effort to improve the Hurley grounds. With funding and support from the Browne Fund, the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, the Boston Parks Department, City Year, the South End Land Trust, Boston Cares, area businesses and universities, and scores of South End neighbors like West Concord Street resident and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, the school received a new playground, outdoor plaza, amphitheater, and landscaped garden.

Program Partners

We are also greatful to count among our supporters a wide range of local foundations, businesses, and organizations that provide enrichment programming and support for Hurley students and teachers. These include:

• Arbour Counseling

• Second Step

• USES - Club 48

• St. Stephen's Programming

• Hurley's Bodega de Arte Afterschool Program Partnerships:

  • Strong Women Strong Girls

  • Peace Through Play - Northeastern University

  • Boston University - BUILD Tutors

• Community Music Center of Boston, provides instrumental and vocal music instruction during the school day for grades 3-5.

• Madres Mentoras, brings parents through a program lead by St. Stephens to provide support in classrooms during the school day.

• The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum is a year-long language arts curriculum for 6th grade Scholars to examine courage in their lives.

• Playworks impacts our school environment through safe, healthy, inclusive play and physical activity for students, Junior Coach leadership training and conflict resolution skill building.

• Handel and Haydn Society - brings music education to younger grades at the Hurley.

• Minni - Provides afterschool art program for students grades 2 - 5

• New England Chess School - brings chess to students in grades 2 - 5 once a week after school

• Boston Debate League - debate league for middle school students.

• Boston Scores Soccer - After school soccer program for middle school students

• Community Music Center of Boston, provides instrumental and vocal music instruction during the school day for grades 3-5.

• St. Stephen's Youth Programs - After school program for Hurley students, starting in K1

• Playworks - impacts our school environment through safe, healthy, inclusive play and physical activity for students, Junior Coach leadership training and conflict resolution skill building.

• Strong Women Strong Girls, Northeastern University, creates rich relationships with role models and mentors for girls in elementary grades.

• Girls on the Run, in partnership with Boston Community Pediatrics, after school running and empowerment program for girls in grades 3 - 5.