METCO

The Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity

METCO is a program funded by the state of Massachusetts to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation by permitting students from Boston to attend public schools in other communities that have agreed to participate.

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Mission

METCO provides students with a strong academic foundation rich in cultural, educational, ethnic, socioeconomic, and racial diversity while creating opportunities for Boston and suburban children to develop a deeper understanding of each other in an integrated public school setting.

Vision

METCO strives to be a leader in voluntary school integration within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and across the nation to promote school diversity, close the achievement gap, and overcome racial barriers.

Values

We respect people, value a multi-racial society, and are committed to inclusion and educational equity.
We believe in the effectiveness of a cohesive and welcoming collaborative environment.
We maintain open and transparent decision-making processes.
We strive to be exceptional in all that we do by establishing and achieving high academic, social, and emotional expectations.
We work to keep students central to our mission.

METCO at a Glance

Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominantly white school districts, allowing students to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting.

Get Involved See Our Impact

3,100

Families

190

Suburban Public Schools

96%

4-Year High School Graduation Rate

Participating Districts

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

METCO, Inc. Headquarters

METCO, Inc., referred to as headquarters (HQ), is a hub for resources, support, and advocacy for students, families, schools, and communities.

A private 501(c)3 non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors
Funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Manages the application and referral process of new applicants
Provides student and family support, racial equity initiatives, engagement opportunities, fundraising, and advocacy

Suburban District Partners

METCO students are full and equal members of their suburban school community and receive the same supports.

Independently overseen by School Committees of the districts who have chosen to participate in METCO
Receive per-pupil funding from state line item and Chapter 70
Accept students based on seats available per year, which is determined by the district’s METCO grant
Employ and supervise METCO Director or coordinator and staff to ensure the success of the METCO participants and their full integration into school life
Provide buses to and from school including some late transportation options to allow students to participate in after-school academic and extracurricular activities

Meet Our Team

Milly Arbaje-Thomas, MSW

President & CEO

617-427-1545 ext. 113

Yojaira Baez

Temporary Admin Assistant

617-315-4732

Lance Carter

Transportation Manager

617-427-1545 ext. 115

Kristen Fumarola

Chief Development Officer

617-427-1545 ext.127

Kim Houston

Chief Administration and Finance Officer

617-427-1545 ext. 121

Karli Janssen

College and Career Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 102

David Joutras

Special Projects

Tony Laing

Lead Racial Equity & Integration Consultant

617-427-1545 ext. 103

Tyler-Lee St. Leger

Academic & Enrichment Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 130

Nabil Nakhla

Finance & Operations Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 117

Olga Olaverria

Office Manager

617-427-1545

Shirelle Riley

Administration & Data Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 111

Jesus Roxas

Communication and Design Manager

617-427-1545 ext. 122

Kiara Santos

Intern

Nia Simpson

Community Organizer & Engagement Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 118

Autumn Souto

Enrollment and Outreach Coordinator

617-427-1545 ext. 116

Wilmary Tejeda

Chief Student Services and Enrollment Officer

617-427-1545 ext. 119

Berkeley Walker

Development & Evaluation Manager

617 427-1545 ext. 124

Denise Wilson

Enrollment and Finance Assistant

617-804-0656

Darnell Billings

Chair of the METCO, Inc. Board of Directors

Associate Broker

Keller Williams Realty Boston

Lexington METCO Alum; METCO Parent

Mabel Reid-Wallace

Vice Chair

President

M.E.G.R.O.W.

Former Wayland METCO Director

Mary Ann Borkowski

Secretary

Wayland Resident

Dr. Daniel Gutekanst

Treasurer

Superintendent

Needham Public Schools

Lori Dipina

Chief Program Officer

The Base

Elijah Evans

CEO

Bikes Not Bombs

Brookline METCO Alum ‘07

Tracei Gamble

Accounts Payable Specialist

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Wayland METCO Alum ‘93; METCO Parent

Nia Grace

Restaurateur/Owner of Grace by Nia

Rosa Iniss

METCO Director, Belmont Public Schools

Nicole Johnson

Director of Educational Equity & Justice

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Reading METCO Alum ’06

Patrick Kimble

Immediate Past Chair

Founder & Managing Partner, Caste Capital

Lincoln-Sudbury METCO Alum ‘08

Marvin L. McIntyre

President / Impresario

Marvelous Enterprises, LLC

Lexington METCO Alum ‘81

Bianca Sullivan

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Business Partner

Draft Kings

Wellesley METCO Alumni ‘09

Chuck Walker, Esq.

Former Chair

Adjunct Law Professor

David A. White, Esq.

Managing Principal

Davis & White Attorneys at Law

Lexington Alum ‘80

Ruth Batson, METCO's Founding Mother

Ruth Batson, a Roxbury native, attended the Nursery Training School of Boston and later received a Master of Education degree from Boston University. She played a pivotal role in fighting segregation and advocating for educational equity in Boston.

In the 1950s and 1960s, she was a tireless advocate for racial equality, focusing on the stark inequities in Boston’s public schools. Batson served as chair of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Public Education Sub-Committee and later became its first woman elected president of the New England Regional Conference. Batson also served as chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. In 1966, in partnership with then-chair of the Brookline School Committee Dr. Leon Trilling, Batson co-founded METCO. She started off leading METCO through its early stages as its Associate Director, including interviewing the first class of METCO students in her own living room.

Appointed as METCO’s executive director in 1968, during a period of heightened racial tension following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Batson confronted widespread skepticism about the viability of integration. Her determination helped METCO expand from 14 to 28 suburban partners, the largest expansion in METCO’s history. She supported districts with the integration process by organizing a student conference, teacher training, and creating a Black history curriculum to foster understanding. After leaving METCO in 1969, she expanded her legacy through her work with Boston University’s child psychiatric programs, the African American History Museum, and the establishment of the Ruth M. Batson Educational Foundation and Scholarship, solidifying her as a steadfast advocate for racial justice and educational reform.

Jean McGuire, METCO's Long-Time Leader

Jean McGuire led METCO, Inc. for 43 years, becoming a voice for Black youth and a Boston icon.

A pioneer and pathbreaker dedicated to Boston’s children, Jean was one of only a handful of Black teachers hired by Boston Public Schools following the Supreme Court’s desegregation order. She went on to serve as the first Black guidance counselor in the district, supporting students and families from all backgrounds and neighborhoods in the city. She assumed leadership of METCO in 1973, and advocated relentlessly for Black political and economic empowerment, civic engagement, and community cohesion. In 1981, McGuire successfully ran for the Boston School Committee, and became the first Black woman to serve in that body.

Jean’s vivid and forward-looking commentary was front and center in any discussion about Black Boston. Fierce and eloquent, Jean used the METCO and School Committee platforms to push for diversifying teachers, running for office, being an engaged parent, and above all the unrecognized brilliance of Black and brown children.

History

METCO’s Historical Milestones

The Metropolitan Council of Educational Opportunity is a coalition formed by local school districts, state government, and a non-profit organization, all coming together voluntarily united in a shared mission. Founded by a group of passionate parents through grassroots advocacy, METCO has grown from a vision into a transformative initiative. Over the years, families, educators, and supporters have worked relentlessly, navigating challenges, and staying committed to providing educational opportunities for all. Their tireless dedication has paved the way for the success and impact we see today.

In the 1960s, the Boston School Committee was a steadfast opponent of school integration. Despite mounting protests, the committee refused to acknowledge that Boston Public Schools were segregated in any way. Fueled by outrage, Ruth Batson and her supporters decided to take action. In December of 1965, Chairman of Brookline School Committee Leon Trilling invited Ruth Batson to a meeting in the hopes of inviting Roxbury students to attend the districts’ school. While initially unimpressed by the invitation, Batson was with school officials alongside students for a pleasant conversation giving way to the beginning of creating an urban to suburban program which will come to be what we know now as METCO.

As Ruth Batson took over the role of METCO’s executive director in 1968, racial tensions in America intensified. The tragic assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. left the Black community in Boston and across the nation grappling with deep uncertainty about the future of integration. In response, the suburbs demonstrated their commitment through action, with the number of METCO partners doubling from 14 to 28.

Under Jean McGuire’s steady leadership over the course of four decades, METCO buses continued their journeys to the suburbs. Appointed as the 4th Executive Director of METCO, McGuire was a trailblazer with deep roots in Boston. A native of the city, she had a distinguished career in the Boston Public Schools, where she made history as the first Black Pupil Adjustment Counselor. With a steadfast commitment to educational equity, she went on to serve as the first Black member of the Boston School Committee before transitioning into her role as Executive Director. Over the course of 43 years, McGuire led METCO with passion and dedication, shaping the future of educational opportunities for students across Boston.

In 2018, a new chapter for METCO, Inc. began with Milly Arbaje-Thomas, a social worker, community leader, and METCO parent, taking the helm as President and CEO. With her operational expertise and forward-thinking vision, Milly focused on modernizing the program for its participants and reimagining its impact in the 21st century.

In the weeks following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, rallies and marches took place across several METCO districts. Superintendents, METCO Directors, and School Committee members gathered in Hyde Park to express solidarity with the Black community and commit to adopting anti-racism resolutions within their districts. Amid the surge of the Black Lives Matter movement, METCO leaders and their suburban counterparts came together united by a renewed commitment to anti-racism and equity.