More than 150 Boston Latin Academy (BLA) students walked out of school last Friday afternoon (April 4) to protest cuts to Advanced Placement (AP) courses and staffing concerns.

At about 1 p.m., students began to filter out the front door and gather on the school steps and around the flag pole, making speeches and leading chants of “Get them out.” No faculty members were observed to be present.

Students told The Reporter that they were most concerned about how some teachers were being treated by administrators and that decisions to remove almost 10 AP classes – including Human Geography and Statistics – were cut without their input.

Charlotte Groth, Nomar Kelly and Joyce Ruiz— all seniors— said their education is being affected negatively.

“There is really a culture of intimidation for those that stand up,” said Groth. “It’s scary because teachers are really scared or always checking about whether their job is secure or not…It is affecting the teaching in our classes.”

Added Ruiz, “I’ve seen teachers crying multiple times in class.”

Kelly said he hopes there can be better communication from the leaders in the building and beyond.

The Boston Teacher’s Union (BTU) did not respond to a request for comment.

A Boston Public Schools spokesperson released a statement noting that the students walked out to raise awareness of changes in course offerings and decisions not to rehire some teachers.

“While these decisions are made very thoughtfully and in collaboration with the school leadership team and personnel subcommittee of the School Site Council, we recognize that any change can be emotional for our school communities,” the statement read.

“We appreciate student voice and advocacy; however, it is critically important that students maximize their learning time in the classroom as well as minimize distraction for their peers who do not wish to participate in walkouts.”