Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School was founded on April 23, 1635, and the National Park Service and the Freedom Trail both call it the oldest public school in America. It is still a working public school today, at 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. Visitors who want to see its history go to the original site at 45 School Street, where a Benjamin Franklin statue and a sidewalk mosaic mark the spot. That site is a stop on the Freedom Trail, close to our Old State House bus stop. This page covers the history of Boston Latin School, its famous students, where to go, whether you can visit the school itself and how to fit the School Street site into a Boston Sightseeing tour.
History Of Boston Latin School
The Town of Boston voted to start a school in 1635, five years after the city's founding. Puritan settlers wanted their sons to learn Latin and the classics, and the school followed the model of the Free Grammar School in Boston, England.
How Boston Latin School Began
The first master was Philemon Pormort, and classes first met in his home. A schoolhouse on School Street followed by 1645. The school was meant for boys of every background, rich or poor, and donations and land rentals paid for it at first, not taxes. In the mid-1700s the school's building made way for King's Chapel.
Moves Across Boston
The school moved several times over the next two centuries. It now sits in the Fenway neighborhood at 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, where it has been since 1922. Because of those moves, the original site on School Street is the place the Freedom Trail marks, not the current campus.
Becoming Coeducational
For its first 337 years, Boston Latin School taught only boys. It admitted its first coeducational class in 1972. A separate school, Girls' Latin School, opened in 1877.
The Oldest Public School In America
The Freedom Trail and the National Park Service both use this title for Boston Latin School, and it is the school's best-known claim. The details are a little more complicated than the slogan.
What "Oldest Public School" Means
Boston Latin School has run continuously since 1635, and Wikipedia calls it one of the oldest existing schools in the United States. It was paid for by donations and rents at first. Historians often credit a school in nearby Dedham as the first one supported by taxes, so you will see different wording in different sources. "Oldest existing public school" is the more careful way to put it.
Why The School Is Called "First"
The school's motto is "Sumus Primi," which is Latin for "We are first." It refers to the founding date and to the school's academic reputation.
A Prestigious Education
Boston Latin School is a public exam school in the Boston Public Schools district, and it teaches grades 7 through 12. Admission is limited to Boston residents, and the school takes new students into grades 7 and 9. The entrance test has changed in recent years, so check current rules with Boston Public Schools before you plan around them.
Famous Students
Five signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated at Boston Latin School: Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, William Hooper and Robert Treat Paine. Franklin is one of the school's best-known dropouts, so he attended but did not graduate. Other well-known alumni include the essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Puritan minister Cotton Mather and the conductor Leonard Bernstein, who graduated in 1935. Several Harvard University presidents also attended.
What To Do Nearby
The place to see Boston Latin School's history is the original site on School Street, not the Fenway campus. The site is outdoors, and the City of Boston manages it as a Freedom Trail stop.
The Benjamin Franklin Statue
A statue of Benjamin Franklin stands outside Old City Hall at 45 School Street, Boston, MA 02108. The sculptor was Richard Saltonstall Greenough, and the statue was dedicated on September 17, 1856, as Boston's first portrait statue. It originally stood in front of Bulfinch's Court House. Four plaques are set on its base.
The Sidewalk Mosaic
A mosaic set into the sidewalk marks where the first Boston Latin schoolhouse stood. Look down as you walk, because the mosaic is easy to miss. The statue overlooks it, so you can see both at the same time. In 2015, city archaeologists dug test trenches in the Old City Hall courtyard to look for remains of the 1600s school. They found the foundations of a 17th-century building tied to the schoolmaster's house and concluded the original school was likely lost.
Can You Visit The School Itself?
The Fenway campus is a working public school, not a museum. If you need to arrange a visit, check with the school and Boston Public Schools first. For most travelers, the School Street site is the easier and more rewarding stop.
Nearby Attractions
The School Street site sits in the middle of the Freedom Trail's downtown stretch, so the next stops are close by.
King's Chapel and its burying ground are next door. The school's building made way for the church in the mid-1700s, which is why the original building is gone. Walk along the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking route linking 16 historic sites tied to the American Revolution, and you will reach the Old Corner Bookstore, the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House in turn. The trail starts at Boston Common, a short walk back up Tremont Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boston Latin School?
Boston Latin School is at 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, in the Fenway neighborhood. It has been there since 1922.
Where is the original Boston Latin School site?
The original site is at 45 School Street, Boston, MA 02108, outside Old City Hall. A Benjamin Franklin statue and a sidewalk mosaic mark it, and it is a stop on the Freedom Trail.
When was Boston Latin School founded?
Boston Latin School was founded on April 23, 1635, by the Town of Boston. It has operated continuously since then.
Is Boston Latin School the first public school in America?
The Freedom Trail and the National Park Service call it the oldest public school in America. Dedham's school is often credited as the first supported by taxes, so "oldest existing public school" is the more precise wording.
Is Boston Latin a public school?
Yes. Boston Latin is a public exam school in the Boston Public Schools district, so it is not a private school and families do not pay private-school tuition. Admission is limited to Boston residents.
Who founded Boston Latin School?
The Town of Boston founded it in 1635. Philemon Pormort was the first master, and classes began in his home.
When did Boston Latin School become coeducational?
Boston Latin School admitted its first coeducational class in 1972. It taught only boys for its first 337 years.
Who went to Boston Latin School?
Five signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated there: Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, William Hooper and Robert Treat Paine. Franklin attended but did not graduate. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Leonard Bernstein also attended.
Can you tour Boston Latin School?
The Fenway campus is a working public school, so check with the school before planning a visit. You can see the school's original site on School Street outdoors, and it is a stop on the Freedom Trail.
How do I get to the Boston Latin School site on the Boston Sightseeing bus?
Get off at Stop 2, the Old State House Museum, and walk to 45 School Street. Stop 3, Downtown Boston, is another option, so check the map for the best route. Every ticket that lets you hop off includes both stops, and the Single Ride Pass is one loop without getting off.
Plan your Boston Tour with the Boston Sightseeing
Boston Sightseeing runs hop-on hop-off double-decker buses with 15 stops across the city, and our tour map shows each one. For the School Street site, Stop 2 is the closest. Stop 2 is the Old State House Museum, which is within walking distance of School Street. Stop 3 is Downtown Boston, so check our tour map for the best route from there.
Every ticket that lets you hop off includes these stops. That covers the All Day tour (Stops 1 to 8, $41.55), the 2-Day tour, the Boston and Charlestown tours and the Cruise Terminal tour. The Single Ride Pass is one narrated loop, so choose a hop-off option if you want to leave the bus and see the statue and mosaic. Prices were checked in October 2026, and you can compare every ticket on our tour packages page. None of our hop-on hop-off stops is at the Fenway campus
Our Tour Packages
Single Ride Pass
$33.25
Explore Boston in 90 Minutes
Ride above the crowd and enjoy the panoramic view of Boston
- Boston City Tour Single Ride Pass
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Charlestown Sightseeing Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off All Day
$41.55
Boston City Sightseeing Tour
Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Shuttle Bus Service
- Charlestown Tour
Hop-on Hop-off Boston & Charlestown Tour
$48.65
Boston & Charlestown Tour
Experience the charm of Boston & Charlestown with Boston Sightseeing at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 2 Days Validity
Cruise Terminal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$52.00
200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop 1-8, 12-15
- Blue & Purple Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 200 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Charlestown Tour
Boston & Cambridge City Tour
$63.00
Guided Photo & City Tour
A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
- Guided Boston & Cambridge sightseeing tour
- Approximately 3.5 hours
- Curated stops and photo opportunities
- Climate-controlled shuttle bus transportation
- Live local tour guide
- 45-minutes Quincy Market lunch break
- Same-day tour experience
- Double-Decker Bus Service
- Hop-on, hop-off service
Attractions To Explore Near This Stop
Best Museums to Visit in Boston
Boston is home to some of the most fascinating museums in the United States, offering visitors the chance to explore world-class art.
20 Reasons to Visit Boston for Your Next Trip | Boston Sightseeing
Boston is one of the most visited cities in the United States, attracting travelers with its rich history, iconic landmarks, waterfront scenery.
Freedom Trail Boston: Complete Guide to Landmarks, History & Tours
Step into the heartbeat of history, where cobblestone streets echo with the whispers of revolution, hope, and courage. The Freedom Trail in.....