Kathleen Jara

Conservatory Lab Charter School

Conservatory Lab Charter School empowers a diverse range of children as scholars, artists, and leaders through a unique and rigorous academic and music education. We enrich the larger community through performance, service, and collaboration. As a laboratory school, we develop and disseminate innovative educational approaches that will positively impact children in other schools and programs. "Music is practically the only way to a dignified social destiny. Poverty means loneliness, sadness, anonymity. An orchestra means joy, motivation, teamwork, the aspiration to success." – Jose Abreu, Founder of El Sistema At Conservatory Lab, we believe in the power of music and learning to transform the lives of our students and their families. At the core of our pioneering curriculum is the hybrid of two proven and exemplary programs: El Sistema and Expeditionary Learning. Both programs emphasize the experience of breaking through barriers in the pursuit of excellence – creating a culture and habit of perseverance. Taken together, these two programs motivate and nurture our students to become dedicated scholars, compassionate leaders, and skilled musicians. Our 440 students reflect the diversity of the fifteen neighborhoods from which they come: 50% are African American, 32% are Latino, 11% are Causasian, 4% self-identified as Other, and 3% are Asian. Through our collaborations with local artists and organizations such as Shaw Pong Liu, the Landmarks Orchestra, and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, our students have represented our school and the city of Boston with poise, humor, and grace. Our school is nationally and internationally recognized as a model of arts-infused education.