New to HPS

Welcome to the Holyoke Public Schools Community. We welcome families from all backgrounds and life experiences. HPS offers a wide variety of supports to help families acclimate to their new community. Our district website is a great place to start, so please take a look around! 

Family and Community Engagement

Our Family and Community Engagement Center is the main entry point for families to Holyoke Public Schools and a key gateway for information about HPS programs and initiatives. Each school is served by a Family Engagement point person who works to support families and schools to build and strengthen their relationship with each other, help them access information and resources, and develop their leadership and voice. You can find their contact information, along with a list of other resources, on the Family and Community Engagement Center page.

Newcomer Program

Holyoke High School also offers a Newcomer Program for students who are new to English and who recently moved to the United States.

In this small, specially-designed program, new English Learners receive extended instruction in English language development and have the opportunity to continue to progress in core academic subjects in Spanish. Newcomer students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds are valued while specialized instruction accelerates learning and keeps students on track for graduation.

The Newcomer Program is, by design, a short-term support for students new to the English language. After one year, most Newcomers will choose a theme-based academy and, with English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction and support as needed, pursue a personalized learning path toward college, career or both.

For more information about the Newcomer Program, contact

Jennifer Albury, Multilingual Director
Send Jennifer Albury an Email
413-534-2000, Extension 1421

Our Core Beliefs

• Students are at the center of everything we do.

• Every child can and will learn.

• School is a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

• Students and staff hold high expectations for themselves and each other.

• Trusting relationships lead to successful partnerships.

• Our equity commitments are enacted in our daily work.