Welcome to the 2026 Aspen Challenge: Boston Challenge Forum!  We are thrilled to be entering into our 12th city, Boston, and working with the brilliant and talented students and educators of Boston Public Schools. We are excited to be in community together, discussing societal challenges you may be facing in Boston and that young people experience across the country. Today, we will hear from leading thinkers who tackle some of our world’s toughest problems. These experts will pose their challenge statements to you, tasking you to design creative and innovative solutions that will benefit your community, your city, and beyond.  We believe that you have what it takes to make demonstrable change in Boston and we can’t wait to see the unique solutions you design over the next ten weeks!

The Boston Public Schools, the birthplace of American public education, is dedicated to providing a world-class learning experience for every student. BPS educates 54,000 students in 125 schools, 74 percent of the school-age children who live in Boston. BPS is proud to be one of the most diverse school districts in the nation. Nearly one in every two students speaks a language other than English at home, and BPS students come from 139 different countries. One in five BPS students has a disability, and half are economically disadvantaged. Under the leadership of Superintendent Mary Skipper, the district collaborates with families, community members, and students to foster a supportive and innovative environment with a strong commitment to educational equity and excellence.

The following 17 schools will participate in the Aspen Challenge: Boston 2026: