Boston District Wins Broad Foundation’s Award

Urban education prize honors score gains.

After four years as a finalist, the Boston school district won the Broad Prize for Urban Education last week in recognition of its success improving achievement, especially among racial- and ethnic-minority groups.

Boston won the prize only three months after the retirement of Thomas W. Payzant, who orchestrated key improvements during more than a decade as superintendent. “The fifth time’s the charm,” Mr. Payzant said in a telephone interview from New York City, shortly after the award was announced there on Sept. 19.

As the winner, the Boston district gets $500,000 to be used to provide college scholarships for students. The other finalists this year—the school districts in Bridgeport, Conn., Jersey City, N.J.; Miami-Dade County, Fla.; and New York City—will each receive...